ADHD Awareness Month: How Audiobooks Can Transform Reading
Struggling to focus on a page? You’re not alone. Millions of people with ADHD face challenges that make traditional reading exhausting.
ADHD is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that affects concentration, attention, and can present with inattentive and/or hyperactive tendencies. More than three million people in the UK live with ADHD (ADHD UK), yet there remains a pressing need to improve support – especially around reading and comprehension in schools.
Held every October, ADHD Awareness Month aims to increase understanding, challenge stigma, and highlight support available to individuals.
For many, traditional reading can feel like a hurdle due to difficulties with comprehension, visual processing, or maintaining focus. Audiobooks offer a different way to connect with stories and information – one that works for ADHD.
Why Audiobooks Work for ADHD
Multisensory Engagement:
Listening to an engaging narrator or full cast can feel more dynamic than reading text on a page. Sound, tone, and pacing can hold attention in a way traditional reading sometimes can’t.
Reduced Cognitive Load:
Reading requires tracking words, decoding them, and holding focus – which can be exhausting for some. Audiobooks remove that effort, letting listeners focus on understanding and actually enjoying the story.
Improved Focus:
Hearing words spoken aloud can make it easier to concentrate. A steady voice and clear narration provide structure, helping listeners stay present with the story.
Flexible Use:
One of the biggest advantages is that audiobooks fit around daily routines. Walking, commuting, cooking, or tidying can become opportunities to listen – and for many people with ADHD, moving while listening actually boosts focus.
Accessibility:
Apps like Libby, smart speakers, and smartphones make audiobooks available anytime. Reading becomes flexible, accessible, and open to everyone.
Extra Benefits You Might Not Expect
Improved Retention:
For some, hearing a story read aloud makes it easier to absorb and recall details. The combination of spoken words, tone, and pacing can help stick in memory more effectively than reading text alone.
Boosting Confidence:
Audiobooks let readers enjoy stories without the pressure of “finishing” a book the traditional way. This reduces stress and builds confidence.
Encouraging a Reading Habit:
By removing barriers, audiobooks can help build a positive relationship with literature. For individuals who might otherwise feel excluded from reading, they offer a doorway into discovering new authors, genres and stories – and can help spark a lasting love of books.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Audiobooks
Experiment with Playback Speed
Slightly faster narration can help maintain attention. Most apps, like Libby, let you adjust the speed – sometimes up to 2x faster.
Use Bookmarks and Notes
Mark key moments or jot down thoughts. Revisiting sections later becomes easy and stress-free.
Try Different Genres
Short, fast-paced books or engaging non-fiction can be ideal starting points. Find what holds your attention and make listening enjoyable.
Pair with Low-Energy Tasks
Walking, cooking, or tidying while listening can reduce restlessness. For many with ADHD, light movement improves focus.
Audiobook Recommendations
If you’re looking for somewhere to start, here are some suggestions – from stories featuring ADHD characters to books written by authors with ADHD, plus immersive narrations that bring stories to life.
ADHD Representation in Stories 
Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan – Percy is written with both ADHD and dyslexia, which are portrayed as part of his demigod powers. The series has been hugely meaningful for readers who recognise themselves in his character.
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston – McQuiston has ADHD themselves, and Alex (one of the main characters) is canonically ADHD too.
Joey Pigza Swallows the Key by Jack Gantos – a heartfelt middle-grade novel about a boy with ADHD navigating school and life.
Books by Authors with ADHD
The Extraordinaries by T.J. Klune – a fun, fast-paced superhero YA that balances humour and heart.
Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas – a dark and magical Peter Pan-inspired tale from an acclaimed ADHD author.
Immersive Narrations and Full Casts
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie – brilliantly narrated by the excellent Steven Pacey.
Northern Lights by Philip Pullman – a full-cast dramatisation of the first His Dark Materials book which brings the story to life with a real cinematic feel.
Audiobooks aren’t just an alternative to print – for people with ADHD, they can be a gateway to focus, learning, and confidence. By removing barriers, they make reading accessible, enjoyable, and empowering.
At Listening Books, we offer access to over 9,000 audiobooks for all ages and interests. Membership is just £25 a year, or free if cost is a barrier.
Explore our audiobook collection, learn more about school memberships, or join today – and rediscover the joy of stories in a way that works for you.
