Sorry, what did you say? 'Inattentional deafness' is genuine phenomenon

Friday 27 May 2011 00:00 BST

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Turning a "deaf ear" to the outside world when preoccupied really does block the ability to hear, studies have found.

Scientists have demonstrated that "inattentional deafness" is a genuine phenomenon.

It is why a person can get "lost" in a gripping novel or a crossword. When this happens, the individual becomes deaf to normally audible sounds.

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