Word: Word Deafness
Definition:
Word deafness is a noun that refers to a condition where a person has difficulty understanding spoken language, even though they can hear perfectly well. This means they can hear sounds and words, but they cannot make sense of them. This impairment is not caused by any loss of hearing.
Usage Instructions:
You can use "word deafness" when talking about someone who struggles to understand spoken words. It is often discussed in medical or psychological contexts.
Example Sentence:
"Despite having normal hearing, Sarah experienced word deafness, making it hard for her to follow conversations."
In medical discussions, you might encounter word deafness as part of a broader examination of language processing disorders. It can be associated with neurological conditions.
While there aren't specific idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to "word deafness," you might use phrases like "lost in translation" to describe a situation where someone does not understand spoken language fully.