I'm sorry, what was that?

[clevermanka]

shanmonster posted a link to a very interesting article:

Your ability to listen to a phone message in one ear while a friend is talking into your other ear—and comprehend what both are saying—is an important communication skill that’s heavily influenced by your genes.

Having two major sounds going at once--I can't stand it. Anyone with me in a movie theater where audience members are talking knows I won't hesitate to tell people to shut it. Two radios tuned to two different stations, or the radio and television on at once drives me crazy. I get nervous, edgy--it's ridiculous how much it bugs me. I have a hard time understanding conversation in a loud bar or restaurant. I can't filter out what I want to hear. Very frustrating.

The article doesn't explain much about what causes the problem or what affect it has on a person, but it's interesting to see that the dis/ability is genetic--not just a weird short in my brain. Doesn't make it any less annoying, though.

Comments

[solan-t.livejournal.com]

I can NOT follow two spoken conversations (like that friend and phone message) AT ALL, either. But let me have half a dozen chat windows open and I can keep track of which conversation is in which without difficulty at all.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mac_/]

I cannot understand people in noisy bars/restaurants, and in college, I had to sit in the front or I couldn't understand a thing with all the chatter.

Same for hearing tv with a toddler in the house babbling or a baby crying.

It doesn't grind on my nerves though, thank goodness. Well, most of the time. Every once in awhile in my house, I have to declare that we are in silent running.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mac_/]

Oh, and this is Mel, but I guess Mac was logged in and I didn't check.

[starstraf.livejournal.com]

that is why I usually try to avoid a dinner table of more then 6 people.

Ah ha!

[cba1282zyx.livejournal.com]

Lydia! Hello!
That is all.
-Mike