AbstractThis investigation examined both the preferred listening rate of individual aphasic subjects relative to their optimal comprehension rate and the relationship of individual subject variables to each of those rates. The preferred listening rates of 15 aphasic subjects were determined as the mean of five trials in which the rate of speech played by an electronic time‐compressor/expander was adjusted. Each subject's comprehension was then tested at time‐expanded rates of 0%, 30%, 60%, and 100%. Individual subjects did not appear to have superior comprehension at the rate nearest their preferred listening rate. However, they demonstrated greater variability in their preferred listening rate choices than previously reported for normal subjects and a positive relationship was obtained between individual subject's variability in choosing a preferred listening rate and the variability in his comprehension scores. It was suggested that this finding may be related to “tuning in” and “fading out” behaviors associated with variability in individual aphasic's performance. This suggestion was discussed relative to unclear findings obtained in previous investigations employing time‐expanded speech with aphasic subjects and the clinical use of such techniques. Further research investigating the use of various time‐expanding techniques with subjects displaying much performance variabilit