Anyone has this problem?

I found out that I was not deaf but had this syndrome. It makes my life quite challenging when in a group, outside with traffic, etc.

I get often scared when someone enter the room because I can't hear them if it has some background noise. And it doesn't need much noise, just a bit to cut me out of the conversation and be able to understand. If my daughter speaks in the same time than my husband, I can't hear him and it is the same if someone speaks in the same time than me, I lose track of what I was saying.

Any experience and tips to share?

I've thought about getting my hearing checked because of the problem you describe. Not so much if it's just 2 people, but definitely in a group I find it very difficult to keep up with conversations. Pubs and bars are pretty bad. I'll have to look into this. Thanks for posting this.

Suffered from this for as long as I can remember. I find it almost like an aural dyslexia. It's not that I can't hear stuff but I can't distinguish the important stuff and focus on it. I cannot retain my concentration when others are talking to me in a crowded environment, so quickly lose track of what's being said. It always amazes me that others can do this so effortlessly.

If we walk in the street and my husband talk to me while looking in the other direction, it doesn't matter if he is very next to me, I can't hear him.

Haha, and the follow-up:

"If we are doing anything and my wife talks to me while looking anywhere, it doesn't matter if it is life or death, I can't pay attention to her"

I get it when I'm tired, or sometimes I'm just distracted by other problems and I find it hard to listen to anyone. I find looking at the speakers mouth can get me back sometimes (but don't look too intently, or you might look a little weird!).

On rare occasions I'd have to leave busy places because I just can't understand anything anymore and start getting really distracted and uncomfortable.

More or less the same with me, but I suffer a hearing loss from a massive ear infection just after arriving in Switzerland. I have a hearing aid now, but the problem with this is that it amplifies all the background noise. So, it's even harder to concentrate on what people are saying, let alone when several are speaking simultaneously...

Just last Friday I ended up leaving the Viadukt anniversary celebration after about an hour just because of that. It was crowded, noisy and hot, but those factors weren't too bad (it was a celebration so it should be crowded and noisy!). However, as a newcomer I knew no one there and couldn't keep track of any conversations in a way that meant I could contribute. So rather than look like the strange guy hanging around not saying anything, I left. No one did anything to make me feel uncomfortable, and the people I did try to chat with were all friendly, I just was struggling.

__________________
"Having sex is like playing bridge. If you don't have a good partner, you'd better have a good hand." --Woody Allen

Hi Nil, I have the exact same problem. If mini-mimi is talking when the other half is then I can't hear either of them. It's the same if I am watching TV and someone talks to me and also the same thing as you when people don't look at me when they are talking to me.

I think it is because I use music at work to shut out other noise and focus on my tasks. That and the fact that I am getting old

The only way to cope is to have an understanding partner who doesn't get arsey when you ignore them or when you get frustrated at them because you constantly find yourself asking them to repeat themselves.

It is quite a lot to expect, but it IS the only way... at home. Outdoors, or at work, it really bothers me to explain to anybody or everybody that they should look at me while speaking.

When I was young, my parents kept asking me: Are you deaf? Because they had to constantly repeat what they just said. But I wasn't nor that is was out of an habit but because of the background noise.

To the point than I can't identify where a noise is coming from. I can hear a tic and I think it is coming from the kitchen but it is actually coming from outside, etc.

In a group, I do a lot the lip reading to follow and it is tiring.

Hi Nil and all
I had the similar problems and had my ears checked and faced with a massive hearing loss.. and even had an operation here in switzerland after 1 year after moving here

One other sign of hearing loss is you always have the intention to talk on the phone with a better hearing ear of yours. This comes naturally.

So, u are not alone. Hearing loss is terrible. Lip reading is great :-)

You should get your hearing checked!

This is a huge problem for me and I don't go out mostly because of this. My problem is clear though, I am actually profoundly deaf in one ear and the other ear has a lot of work to do. I also have to lip read in groups.

I feel for you, I know it's not cool.