Returning after a long absence - Question: Do you listen?

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Hi, I'm Anna-Magdalena, have an autism spectrum disorder, and am quite old (61). When I first became a member in 2007 I did not have a job and was probably mostly in bed. Now I'm working. Sometime I'll tell you about the amazing changes in my life, some due to my relationship with the dog I got in 2009. But that's for later. I have a question. I have become aware within the last week that I do not listen when people talk to me. I hear a word here and there, but pretty much just let the person talk while I make what I believe are the appropriate sounds and responses. When my husband is talking and I need to know what he is saying, I have to stop him, have him start over, and listen really, really hard. And believe me, it is hard. So my question: Is this just me, or could it be related to the autism spectrum disorder?

Welcome back to WP!

I’m not sure.
For me, sometimes it’s the beginning of a conversation. It takes me an extra minute to put away whatever I was thinking about before. Kind of like save, exit, open a new program… If you start talking before I can really pay attention, I’ll have to ask you to start over.
Or sometimes I get the wrong program – I expected the story to go one way and later realize that we’ve been at cross-purposes the whole time and, again, we need to start over.

Welcome!

I listen. If I do not want to hear what someone is saying (a long boring story that they told me already, for example) I cut them off, because if I don't, I will hear and process every single word again.

Welkome to WP

Mick