"Why don’t you listen?” Paying attention vs. hearing (Peter’s story)

Peter Jones used to feel better about saying he had a hearing problem rather than considering ADHD. When he was a child in the 90s, adults thought his “listening problem” was because he couldn’t hear. Turns out, Peter does have some trouble hearing lower frequencies, but that didn’t explain his other symptoms.  

Now, Peter knows he has ADHD and is not afraid to say it. On this episode, Host Laura Key and Peter discuss what it means when a child is “listening,” and how auditory processing comes into play.  

To get a transcript of this show and check out more episodes, visit the ADHD Aha! podcast page at Understood.

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Related resources

• The difference between auditory processing disorder and ADHD
• What’s the difference between inattention and distractibility?
• Why some kids don’t listen

As kids head back to school, it's a good time to remember: not every student experiences the classroom the same way. Through My Eyes, a free interactive experience from Understood, lets you step into a day in the life of a kid with ADHD, dyslexia, or dyscalculia. See their strengths and challenges in a whole new way. Try it out here.

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