Critical listening is an active form of listening that involves some evaluation of the material; it is the ability to process the information you have heard and make informed decisions. This is different from listening to facts. When you are listening critically, you are evaluating and analyzing the information being cautious to avoid biases.
Active Listening is a skill set that teaches you to do more than take in the sound waves and comprehend. Active listening requires you to listen attentively to a speaker, understand what they’re saying, respond and reflect on what’s being said, and retain the information for later. This keeps both listener and speaker actively engaged in the conversation.
Empathetic Listening - Empathic listening means being aware of, and understanding, the speaker's feelings and emotions, as well as the words that they are using. This means consciously trying to understand the meaning of what they are saying—but also what is behind the words, the emotion, and what they are not saying.
Appreciative Listening - Appreciative listening is a type of listening behavior where the listener seeks certain information which they will appreciate, and meet his/her needs and goals. One uses appreciative listening when listening to music, poetry, or the stirring words of a speech.
Critical Listening - Critical listening is a process for understanding what is said and evaluating, judging, and forming an opinion on what you hear. The listener assesses the strengths and weaknesses of the content, agrees or disagrees with the information, and analyzes and synthesizes material.