.
Adults and Adolescent Listening Checklist
Listening Problems are often a keycomponent in many communication and interaction difficulties. Yet, listening and hearing are not the same; many individuals with listening difficulties have normal or above average hearing. Since listening cannot be seen or tested easily this checklist will help you determine if perhaps, poor listening ability is an issue for you.
Check all that apply to you. Note that many people have some of the tendencies below. It is important to view your responses cumulatively to determine if you may be struggling with a listening problem
Developmental
History
Listening difficulties often develop early in life. Please note
if any of the following apply to you.
Delayed motor development (e.g. late walker) Delayed speech development(e.g. late talker) Recurring ear infections Experienced emotional trauma Experienced physical trauma Environmental History Have you ever been exposed to loud sounds like: Guns, ammunitions, hunting Loud concerts Did/or do you ever experience: Ringing, one or both ears Concussion or head trauma Headaches - type_____________________ Receptive Listening and Language This is the listening that is directed outward. It keeps us attuned to the world around us, to what's going on at home, at work, or in the classroom. Difficulty staying focused at work/meetings Short attention span Easily distracted, especially by noise Oversensitivity to certain sounds Misinterpret questions or requests Confusing similar sounding speech, sounds, words Need repetition, clarification more than usual Difficulty following instructions Poor short-term memory Poor long-term memory Must read materials several times to absorb content Become sleepy when listening to speaker/reading Difficulty hearing low male voice Difficulty hearing high female voice Seems most people speak too fast
Expressive Listening and Language
This is listening that is directed within. We use it to control our voice when we speak and sing.
Flat and monotonous voice
Speech lacks fluency, rhythm is hesitant
Weak vocabulary
Poor spelling
Poor sentence structure
Difficulty recalling exact word usage
Difficulty reading, especially out loud
Confusion or reversal of letters
Difficulty relating isolated facts
Sing out of tune
Behavioral/Social Adjustment
A listening difficulty is often related to these:
Low tolerance for frustration
Low self-confidence, poor self-image
Difficulty making and keeping friends
Difficulty relating with peers, authority figures
Withdraw from or avoid social interactions
Tendency towards irritability
Inordinately tired at end of work/school day
Low motivation; minimal interest in work/school
Tense and anxious
Limited sense of aliveness
Difficulty setting goals, priorities
Difficulty beginning and completing projects
Difficulty with time concepts, punctuality
Difficulty making judgements and generalization to new situations
Hesitant to accept responsibility
Do not complete assignments, procrastinates
Lack tactfulness
Do not tolerate stress well
Others tell me I appear stressed - more than I recognize
Overly distressed by certain fabrics or damp clothing (a shirt that gets a water spot on it must be changed)
Strongly resists wearing shoes
Seems oblivious to hot or cold
Does not cry when injured
Strongly resists treatment of an injury (the band-aid is worse than the injury)
Very picky eater: avoids certain textures or temperatures of foods
Gags on food
Motor Skills
This is listening to the body. These skills are related to the vestibular system of the ear, affecting balance, coordination,
body image and spatial coordination.
Poor posture, slouching, slumping
Fidgeting
Clumsiness, tripping, stumbling
Confusion of left/right
Mixed dominance
Poor sense of rhythm
Messy handwriting
Confused about location, direction
Poor sports skills
Foreign Languages
English is my 2nd language
I also speak____________________________________
I want to learn a foreign language, but find it very difficult
My accent bothers me/cause
misunderstandings in conversations