Speech communication experts have long believed that listeners are much more likely to grasp spoken facts and concepts if presenters also provide visual and other nonverbal cues.1 As early as the 1950s, studies showed that the use of audio and visual aids in a speech could increase learning by as much as 55 percent,2 and today teachers recognize that aids helped students learn the course material.3 Recent studies show that aids enhance learning for both inexperienced audience members and those who are experienced and knowledgeable about the subject matter.4 A presentation aid is anything beyond your spoken words that you employ to help your audience members understand and remember your message. Also known as audiovisual aids, presentation aids include any materials you might use to support and convey the points and subpoints in your speech.

Consider your own learning experiences over the years. For example, how did you come to understand difficult math concepts? Did your teacher expect you to know how to solve complex problems after merely lecturing to you about algebra or geometry? Or did she illustrate the problems and concepts on the chalkboard—with plenty of examples? Most likely, you found the illustrations helpful and even essential for grasping the concepts. Likewise, if you studied a language not native to you, did your teacher merely lecture to you about the language in your native tongue? Or did he model the language for you, demonstrating correct pronunciation and perhaps playing recordings of native speakers using the language? Again, you probably found the demonstrations and recordings crucial for mastering the basics of the new language.

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Savvy use of presentation aids can help you gain several important advantages as you deliver a speech.