About hearing but not understanding.

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I sometimes grin like I've been cracking wise when I realize I've misunderstood something. Then I keep on with the joke when I find out what's going on. I also crack wise deliberately often enough. It works! People can't tell the difference!

Definitely this.

I've mentioned this elsewhere on the recent ToM thread but with me it seems to some kind of processing / too many inputs issue

If someone is explaining something complex I have on occasion shut my eyes.

I much prefer listening to science etc programmes on the radio to tv (all hail BBC Radio 4) cos then I just have to take in an audio input and not a video input too.

I generally only have a problem where what is being said is complex and I need to think a bit about what's being said.

Conversations like 'oh its cold today' are fine, but since I don't enjoy small talk, I don't tend to have many such conversations...

[edited for typos, grammar]

I have this problem alot and I have central processing dysfunction, profound ADHD, and a significant hearing loss. But even with my hearing aids and I can hear the person talking clearly...still my brain does not compute. That is central processing dysfunction...your ear hears it, but your brain gets it lost in translation from sound to thought.

Somethings that can help if you are in a situation where you MUST hear what is being said is have the person write it down or have someone take notes for you. Also if it is severe enough, you can qualify for a sign language interpreter and learn sign language. CPD is a form of hearing loss that can extend into its own type of deafness called central deafness.
I am deaf, not just because of my hearing loss, but because of my CPD added to that. With AS, stress plays a role in functioning levels...under less stress CPD for a person on the spectrum might not have as much trouble comprehending , but under high stress, nothing seems to compute. CPD is a fairly common co-morbid of autism spectrum disorders.

Jojo

^ Interesting info here. Given that I've also had difficulties with both reading text and processing sign language, though, I'm not sure I've got what you're describing, jojobean. Might there be some other cause?

It did occur to me, however, that I can address the processing issue in different ways, depending on what seems to be the trouble. If I'm tired, I may need a less busy environment or to just accept that I can't do any better without rest. But if the problem is competing noise distraction, writing or sign might help. Writing might also help if the problem is certain kinds of visual distraction, because it will make me focus in one place. But if it's that things are not just busy but also bright or otherwise glaring, I may need to listen instead. If the trouble is general chaos, I may need both speech and writing or some other visual aid. I'll have to see if this is workable in real time, though, not just in theory.

Nice!

I have this exact same problem, but it also happens in quiet places sometimes too. I'll hear them just fine, but the words I hear aren't the words they said. instead, they are words that rhyme with what they said. And for some reason, sometimes the words I "hear" are WAY off and don't even rhyme... I hate it because I always have to confirm information with people and ask questions to make sure I got it, which makes me just seem like some idiot who can't follow directions, when that's not the case at all. I can follow a list of 10 things to do, but if you just tell me 10 things to do, and it never gets written, I'll remember like 5 of them if you're lucky.

Happens to me, during conversations with many people, especially in noisy environments like restaurants and canteens. I try to sit in the middle of the table so that I'll find easier to concentrate and follow the conversation. Unfortunately, I often get moved to the side in the end somehow. I need to look at the person's mouth to concentrate, like I were lip-reading (even though my hearing is perfect). Because of this, in such situations I end up talking less than would be able to, topic-wise, and I get exhausted quickly. It happens also during one-to-one conversations which are very stressful because emotionally charged. In this case, I would just ask to repeat or rephrase. In formal situations, one good strategy for me is to try to recap what I have understood and ask my interlocutor if this is what he/she meant.

happens with me always

Also if there is something very LONG said verbally like if someone is reading a story or giving a long set of verbal instructions I usually forget the beginning by the time they are at the end and I miss the details in between. When we used to test these things in school my reading comprehension was sky high but my listening was sub par. Now if someone gives me long verbal instructions at work I tell them to "put it in an e-mail " so that I "can put it on my calendar and don't miss any details". It's a really good way to hide the fact that I didn't get much of what they said, plus it puts the burden back on them.

This happens to me very often. Some how, I've not recognized the problem until recently. Even though I'm aware about it now, it seems like the habit continues. Like I don't have the processing power to identify it, as it happens.

When it happens, I say "what", and shortly after the other person has started repeating himself, I know what he said. I could easy repeat it, word for word.

How do you avoid it?
Do you recognize it when it happens, and are you able to stop yourself from saying "what" ?

All of that describes me perfectly. It can be amusing like you said, but it can be extremely frustrating too because people get sick of repeating themselves.

I do this all the time!
I hear what they said, but it's as if I need more time to process what was said so I automatically say "What?" to give me more time.

Excellent! Thank you for the keywords, Valkyrie2012. I'm sensing this is a big problem of mine even though I already have a lot of behavior mitigation in place. I'm probably missing huge chunks, given the way strangers react to me.

*************

Asking someone to repeat themselves can be annoying for them.

For those moments when you need a few seconds to hear what has been said, it's perfectly acceptable to say, "Let me think on that for a minute."

If you're not brave enough for that (been there, lots) you can try taking a drink of water from the water bottle you carry everywhere... I know a guy who blows his nose every time he gets into a jam. When he's done blowing, he saves himself. I can't bring myself to blow my nose in public so I have used a water bottle.

Some people are mature enough not to mind and would really rather know what's going on, so they can respect your needs all the better. For those who are less sensitive and grown up, however, these are excellent suggestions! (I'd go for the water bottle over the nose blowing, too.)

I don't think it's necessarily a matter of maturity as one of familiarity (education) and intelligence, but that's another discussion, eh?

Does anyone choke? This is a breathing problem for me. Sometimes I breathe/swallow out of sync, or something... and I choke horribly on nothing.

WOAH!! Me too!! I actually had my hearing checked because my husband was getting annoyed with me not "hearing" him all the time. . .