Native English Speaker

by Dana
(New York)

I don't know if a therapist is who I would ask for help about this topic, but I don't know who else to ask. I've been noticing this for a long time, but Google doesn't have any links pertaining to it.

I'm a native English speaker, (American), but when people speak to me in English I can't seem to understand them right away. It doesn't happen all the time, but occasionally I'll just stare at them blankly until whatever they said registers in my mind (usually 5-15 seconds). More often then not, I'll just nod/laugh and walk away until it clicks. I don't understand why this is happening, especially since I've been speaking English my entire life. The words tend to sound foreign, like it's a totally different language and I have to translate it. Any ideas? Thanks
-D

Ben's Answer:

To be on the safe side, I would suggest getting an evaluation by a neurologist. This sounds like more than just the usual "spacing out" that happens to many people. Cognitive processing problems can be worsened by stress, trauma, and sleep deprivation. Toxic reactions to substances, or environmental chemicals could also cause unusual symptoms. But getting yourself fully checked out is the best way to know if there is a serious problem here.

Take Care,
Ben Schwarcz