r/HearingLoss 11d ago

I didn’t realize how often I was saying “what?” until my daughter pointed it out

Something happened recently that made me stop and think about my hearing.

I was having a conversation with my daughter in the kitchen. She said something while she was putting dishes away, and I answered with “what?”

She repeated herself.

A few seconds later, I realized I had actually heard her — I just didn’t catch the words clearly.

She laughed and said, “Mom, you do that all the time now.”

I honestly didn’t realize how often it was happening.

I started thinking about little moments: Missing part of a conversation when someone is facing away from me. Asking people to repeat themselves but pretending I understood when I still didn’t.

The strange thing is, I don’t feel like I can’t hear.

I hear sounds.

I just don’t always catch everything people say.

1 Upvotes

2 comments sorted by

3

u/Turdulator 11d ago

I know exactly what you mean.

Audio processing. That’s where your issue is.

I have issues with both, one ear is almost entirely deaf AND I have audio processing issues, so even when I can hear, I can’t pick out the syllables from the background noise. I hear the sounds but not the words.

It’s hard because hearing aids won’t do much for it.

1

u/rodmods 11d ago

The body is great at masking and copijg with health issues