Auditory memory games are activities intended to test one's ability to recall, and in many cases to repeat, auditory stimulation. Such activities can actually help to improve one's auditory memory, if only by increasing the degree to which one focuses on remembering what he hears. A simple form of an auditory memory activity is for one person to speak a phrase or repeat a series of tones and for another person to try to repeat them. Turning similar activities in to games makes them more interesting, though, so auditory memory games are more common that simple repetition activities. A repetition memory game involving clapping and repeating patterns can be made interesting by adding some competitive aspect.
There are many auditory memory games that one can play on one's own to simply work on improving auditory memory on a day-to-day basis. One can, for instance, listen to songs on the radio and try to recall the names of the last ten song titles. While listening to a book on tape, one can try to recall exactly which events occurred in which chapters. In class, one can try to remember lectures in great detail after taking only minimal notes. Almost all situations that involve listening provide a potential opportunity for auditory memory games, though those that can be repeated and verified are best.
It is also possible to play a variety of auditory memory games with other people. Most such games involve some basic element of repetition. One person, for instance, may say a phrase or clap a certain rhythm, and then the other person repeats the phrase or rhythm. The two people involved can switch roles and try to come up with ever more complex phrases and rhythms to repeat and memorize. Keeping score and possibly even adding some form of prize element to the auditory memory games can make them more interesting and can provide an incentive to serious participation.
Auditory memory games are also available online and on a variety of different handheld devices, such as game systems and cell phones. Such games are generally similar to more conventional auditory memory games in that they involve listening to sounds and indicating in some way that one remembered the sounds. They can be particularly useful, though, because they automatically keep score and assess one's performance. Games played alone or with friends are susceptible to human error, but electronic games tend not to make errors and are, therefore, more objective judges of auditory memory.
