My son has no hearing problem but for sure he cannot hear ME when I talk to him! He is also sweet and well behaved and just ignores me.
We've always used the 1,2 ,3 Magic to discipline him and the only word he reacts to (from me) when he is busy with his own things is "ONE".
I have notice that he cannot "hear" me (or others) when he is busy. I have to put my face on is face and catch his eyes in my eyes, so he would listen. He is so much into his own world that he shuts the rest of the "real" world out.
My husband is exactly the same. He can study an engineering book in the middle of a screaming crowd, so, there are some benefits to this ability to focus on what he is doing. As for my husband, when I talk to him and ask him to do something (like, please pick up the laundry tomorrow), my last question is "what did I say". because he would say yes to all and after 5 minutes have no idea that I talked to him. I need to make sure that he was really listening.
Same for my little boy. Catching his attention is hard. I would say to him "if you don't come for your snack now, I take away your puzzle" No reaction (or worse, a 'yes" and no action). Then, I say "ONE". He looks at me puzzled. I ask him: "What did I just say?" and he either doesn't know or invent something ("you said I must clean my room")
In brief, my 2 tricks:
- saying "one" (if you do the 1,2, 3 magic)
- get to his level and make eye contact. Ask him to look in your eyes.
- touch him, so he can acknowledge your presence and the 'real" world around
I'm curious to read other mom's ideas on this one!