Community Corner
Selective Hearing in Teenagers
A teenager will hear, "I can take you to the mall now." They won't hear, "Have you finished your homework?"
If you have teenagers that can't seem to hear you, don't worry. They haven't suddenly gone deaf. Instead, they have developed something called selective hearing.
Urbandictionary.com defines selective hearing as a person choosing to hear only what they would like to hear.
For example, you can holler "did you get your stinky socks out of my car yet" and get no response. But say "dinner is ready" and watch them come running.
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Q: Does this same thing happen in your house? Could your teenager have selective hearing?
Read what the Canton-Sixes Patch Moms Council had to say, then add your own experiences in the comment field below this article.
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A: My teenage girls definitely have selective hearing. I am constantly asking them to pick up their dirty clothes and clean up their messes in the bathroom after getting ready for school. My oldest can't even push in her dresser drawers after pulling clothes out. I haven't figured out that one yet. Anyway, I have figured out that when they ask me to do something for them I simply say I can't until they first do what I have asked them to do. Most of the time, I get a blank stare back as if it's the first time they have heard the question. Wait a minute! My husband seems to have the same condition.
Leslie Olejnik, mother of two
A: My kids, especially my 9-year-old daughter, have their moments of selective hearing. In my experience, it's worse with girls. I find that I have to make sure I clearly have their attention before I begin telling them anything important. I'm trying to enforce a new rule that requires them to acknowledge me when I call their names before I begin with my request. It's a work in progress.
I also find that their attention to my voice is severely limited if they are reading or watching TV. I guess I can appreciate that. So I try to limit my frustration in those instances. But after the third time speaking to them without a response, I simply feel ignored. At that point, the TV usually goes off. So, yes, I'm looking forward to suggestions on how to deal with selective listening.
Melissa Holder, mother of two
