Why stop this discussion at reading comprehension, digital vs. physical? I would like to see how reading comprehension (both sorts; any sort you can come up with and test) compares to audio comprehension - you know, someone reading a book vs. having a book read to them. I realize that's not the author's point but I think that would be interesting as well.

I think that it's not impossible that some people prefer online reading, or physical reading, and others may prefer to hear things read to them instead.

I confess: I cannot listen to audiobooks. Or, rather, I can, but I couldn't tell you a single thing that happened. My comprehension goes out the window. I tend to have difficulty doing anything while holding a conversation - I'm okay at typing/speaking if I have what I am going to say in both mediums already plotted out, but otherwise, if I want to know what is being said with good confidence, I have to turn off music, look at the person speaking, and so on.

I find it near impossible to drive and talk on the phone. I don't do it, not because of safety concerns, but because I just don't feel like I can concentrate on both at all and I'd rather use the concentration on driving. I know the conversation will go in one ear and out the other. And generally if I am having a conversation with you on the phone I like you and want to remember our conversation. Also, I'd like to not be worried about dying. (I guess it kind of is a safety thing, but it's because I know I simply can't concentrate and I don't feel good. It's more instinct than ingrained.)

It is even difficult for me to explain to you what happened in a poem, a single short poem, if I only hear it once and do not have it in front of me.

I truly feel that in order to 'know' a written work I must read it. however I know there are many avid audiophiles out there on Hubski! Not tagging kleinbl00!

Is there any other way you can think of to consume what originally started as written media? If your school textbooks were broken up into short films, how would that impact you do you think? I knew a girl who memorized things by creating musical mnemotics. I guess that's not quite the same though.

I'm not criticizing the original article - but I just do know that I have marked difficulties with audio comprehension, and wonder if maybe looking at other styles too or other types of readers could give more insight. For instance, do poor performing readers perform even more poorly when reading digitally?

If deep reading is a bridge to thought, do we not reap those benefits by listening to an audio recording of a book?