TYPES

OF
LISTENING
BY FIDA FATHIMA
 WHAT IS LISTENING?
Listening is receiving language through the ears. Listening involves
identifying the sounds of speech and processing them into words and
sentences. When we listen, we use our ears to receive individual sounds
(letters, stress, rhythm and pauses) and we use our brain to convert
these into messages that mean something to us.
 DISCRIMINATIVE LISTENING
Discriminative listening is first developed at a very early age – perhaps even
before birth, in the womb.  This is the most basic form of listening and does not
involve the understanding of the meaning of words or phrases but merely the
different sounds that are produced.  In early childhood, for example, a
distinction is made between the sounds of the voices of the parents – the voice of
the father sounds different to that of the mother.

COMPREHENSIVE LISTENING
Comprehensive listening involves understanding the message or messages that are being
communicated.  Like discriminative listening, comprehensive listening is fundamental to
all listening sub-types.

APPRECIATIVE LISTENING
Appreciative listening is a type of listening behavior where the listener seeks
certain information which they will appreciate, and meet his/her needs and goals.
One uses appreciative listening when listening to music, poetry or the stirring words
of a speech.
EMPATHIC LISTENING
Empathic listening involves attempting to understand the feelings and emotions of the
speaker – to put yourself into the speaker’s shoes and share their thoughts.  Empathy is a
way of deeply connecting with another person and therapeutic or empathic listening can
be particularly challenging.  Empathy is not the same as sympathy, it involves more than
being compassionate or feeling sorry for somebody else – it involves a deeper connection –
a realisation and understanding of another person’s point of view. 

ANALYTICAL LISTENING
Analytical listening is focused more on the interpretation and meaning of the actual sound. The
message of the song and even the way a vocal line has been delivered, share common traits of
analytical listening. Understanding the mood that the song is setting out to portray is another
analytical listening trait.
THANK YOU