This study investigated learning through listening at rates ranging from 78 to 428 words per minute (wpm). The sample consisted of 117 elementary school children, from two levels of intelligence. Immediate and one-week retention data were gathered on each subject. Results of the study indicate that listening rates of 228 and 278 wpm are more efficient for learning and retention than the normal rate of 178 wpm. Subject with lower IQs performed better at rates which were slower than the better rates for higher IQ subjects. It was further observed that the performance curves obtained in this study display a secondary peak just prior to the final drop in performance at very high listening rates. This study provides evidence that high-speed listening can be an efficient learning medium for elementary school children; hence, the utilization of instructional programs, incorporating the medium of compressed speech, may prove to be highly effective. (Author)