Neuro linguistic programming is a branch of cognitive science that examines the ways in which people mentally process information. A pioneer of the field, Tad James, says that "people do internally what they're talking about." A visual learner, for example, will frequently frame ideas in sight-related terms. She will often say things like, "Do you see what I mean?" or "I see what you're saying." An auditory learner, conversely, will make such statements as "We're just out of tune with each other" and "That definitely rings a bell."
Visual learners tend to be very focused on what they see, as opposed to what they hear. They are often excellent at remembering faces but perform poorly when attempting to recall names. A visual learner usually has a vivid imagination and associates ideas by seeing the big picture. He will recognize the meaning of ideas more easily by comprehending the whole. He might, however, have trouble grasping concepts delivered in lengthy, step-by-step detail.
Auditory learners generally remember what they hear and are very attentive to detail. An auditory learner might have trouble using a map to find locations but can follow verbal instructions with ease. She will also use a running internal dialogue to reiterate ideas and commit them to memory. Auditory learners enjoy talking, gravitate toward social energy and are attuned to subtle shifts of tone and inflection in the voices of other speakers.
Visual and auditory learners often find communicating with one another difficult. Each person represents ideas according to his own preferred sensory channel. When an auditory and visual person converse, both often feel misunderstood and unable to grasp what the other is saying. Auditory learners can improve communication with visuals by describing what an idea looks like. They must paint a clear picture, full of colors and graphic illustrations. A visual learner, on the other hand, can better communicate with an auditory person by facilitating her need to talk things out. The visual learner can also make a point to express more of his thoughts and emotions out loud, understanding that the auditory person needs to hear.
These strategies, however, rely on each person's willingness to improve communication with the other. You can initiate this improvement by identifying your own learning style, along with that of the person with whom you wish to speak. As stated earlier, a person's speech is often filled with clues as to which sensory channel she prefers. You can also use a number of online tests to establish your favored style of learning.