Expert: Harriet B Jacobster, Au.D. - 1/12/2009

Question
I'm a 25 year old female and do not have any health problems, my problem is that I sometimes do not hear someone talking to me or trying to get my attention if I'm tuned out thinking about something else or engrossed in a conversation. It's not that i don't pay attention, its that i do not hear them speaking to me at all, no matter how close they are. Also, sometimes i hear something being said and then ask the person to repeat what he/she said and before they do i realize what they had said. It's like it takes a while for me to receive the information or absorb it. I've noticed it happening more frequently lately but it's always been there. What could be the reasons for this? Could it be physical or is it just the fact that I'm not focused?
Thanks..

Answer
Hi Shaima,
My first recommendation is that you have a complete audiological workup by an audiologist.  Even at 25 years old, you may have a mild hearing loss that makes it more difficult for you to hear people, especially if there is any background noise or distraction.  You may also want to have an Auditory Processing Evaluation. Auditory processing (AP) is how the brain interprets the sounds that it receives.  It is possible to have an AP even with normal hearing, and this could certainly account for a delay in understanding what is said.  If all these turn out to be normal, then you may want to look at what else may be going on in your life at this time.  Many things can affect how we hear and listen, including poor health, stress, hyperactivity, depression, etc.  These are things that you can discuss with your audiologist.  You may also want to have a complete physical just to rule out any other physical problems.

Hope this helps
Harriet B. Jacobster, AuD
Board Certified in Audiology