Researchers at the University of North Carolina found that a picture will result in better recall when compared to a written word, but that there is no difference between a picture and a spoken word.
When you see a picture it’s easy and accessible. Your mind is presented with information, and all the stuff is there. The size, the colors, the mood, everything is given to you.
With a spoken word or reading aloud, you must take in the information and speak it aloud, therefore, producing a “dual encoding” as you consume information.
You also must build the scene and all the stuff of the scene in your mind. It’s not fed to you as it would be with a picture.
When you generate a mental picture, you remember the information as well, if not better than viewing a picture. It also exercises the creative juices in your mind to be used to build those mental pictures needed when you read words instead of look at pictures.
Pictures are easy and accessible, but the long-term value of reading words will build creativity in you as well as offer zero detrimental effects when compared with viewing images. You simply have to be willing to read the words.