Can you just go with the conversational flow?

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Can you just go with the conversational flow? If other people change the subject, can you go along with it? Do you take forever to come up with something to say and by the time you're ready to speak, has the conversation passed you? Does this happen all the time, or only around certain people?

I can think quickly, so I can start an answer. On the other hand, I can almost never finish that answer without pausing and looking for words, far more than anyone else I know--definitely not just a second or two. If there's background noise (other than music, which is usually okay if it's quiet), there's basically no way I'll be able to stay in the conversation, because the background noise is typically more "interesting." I'm lucky because most people are willing to wait once they've heard anything of what I've had to say.

I used to have (a lot of) trouble with subject changes, but now I mostly talk to professors, so I'm the one changing the subject. It is one of those issues which goes away due to not placing oneself in situations where it is a problem.

I can leap into a conversation started by someone else if it's directed at me, and although I find such occasions extremely nerve-wracking, the person who is speaking to me always comments on how eloquently and calmly I speak. But on the inside my mind has basically switched over to panic mode.

Conversely, if I'm engaged in a conversation that I've started and the topic is changed or the focus switches to another person who is also part of the discussion, I find it very difficult to know when, if, and, how to get back into the flow of things, and if the conversation has no interest for me I'm known for just wandering off and/or doing something else.

I find it difficult sometimes, because I might be stuck on the previous subject, but I'm working on that skill.

I've got the greeting part down. The compliment them on their clothing. I can interject when someone says something I actually relate to. But when the conversation subject changes I become a bit sad especially if I wanted to talk more about that previous subject. It does take me a while to think of something to say.

My noise sensitivity is really affecting my concentrating and I'm often distressed by the slightest sound, so that gets in the way too.

If it's several people, especially ones I don't really want to be around, I shut down and stay quiet while they go on and on. I have heard all kinds of comments, they say I look like I don't feel well or I have a big frown on my face. Most the time I am just bored. What's really weird is people will talk at great length to the person I am with but completely ignore me. I completely ignore them, too and can't wait for them to go mingle elsewhere.

no. its hard for me. sometimes the conversation is just boring and i zone out, sometimes background noise, or oddly enough the sound of the conversation itself, drowns out the sound of the conversation, the conversation also moves too quickly- i can never think of anything interesting to say in time and when i do the conversation has moved on or i just don't feel comfortable interrupting to have my say or am unsure if i am even in the conversation. i end up getting ignored. if its one on one the conversation usually dries up because i don't know what people talk about.

If it's just me and one other person, and they're talking about something really interesting, then sometimes I can. If it's a group of people who keep changing topics all the time, from the royal wedding, to the weather, to their new phones, then no, I'll just zone out.

A couple days ago, I got into a brief conversation with a student in my microcomputer applications class. We were mainly talking about the exam we'd taken that day, and what we generally thought of that class. I found I could easily converse with him on that subject. This could either be that I'm getting better at conversing, or simply because the subject matter was easy enough for me.

But, yeah, how easy a conversation is for me really depends on a bunch of other factors, such as whom I'm conversing with, what we're talking about, and our surroundings.

Depends on whether or not I can maintain interest. I have a small but sturdy tolerance for small talk now but once that timer runs out, I'm drifting. If its something I'm actually interested in, I can be riveted on the spot and not even notice my legs falling asleep.

I said never. Most of the time, I simply cannot come up with something to say on the spot, and by the time my brain has translated my thoughts into speech, the conversation has moved on... even if I'm only talking to one person. With the 2 people I am able to speak freely with, I know I perseverate. I try not to, but I can't help it. If I'm forced to change the subject, I just stop talking, because my mind doesn't move on.