Having a preconceived notion about the topic can lead to difficulty understanding the speaker's ideas, so present controversial subjects evenhandedly. Emotional states such as anger may block one's ability to comprehend the point. Similarly, anxiety makes listening difficult since it distracts listeners from the conversation. People with working memory problems or attention deficit issues may also experience difficulty understanding verbal material. As the speaker progresses, the listeners may find their attention wandering or forget the earlier portions of the discussion, making understanding difficult. If you're a student who has difficulty following discussions, tell your teacher and guidance counselor.
Atmosphere can affect listening comprehension. Excessive noise makes hearing more difficult, which in turn affects understanding of the message. Other factors that make listeners uncomfortable, such as the room being too hot or cold, may disrupt their concentration. Teachers should note whether there are any environmental distractions that can disrupt concentration in the classroom, and try to mitigate those factors. Not all distractions are unpleasant. For instance, students trapped inside on a beautiful spring day may have trouble comprehending a teacher's lecture, particularly when the room has windows.
When listeners do not care about the topic or lack a clear understanding of the ideas you're expressing, they probably won't comprehend the lesson. Non-native speakers of a language typically experience more difficulty identifying the context of a lesson, particularly if they are unfamiliar with a culture. Without knowing the background of a subject, listeners will lose interest and comprehension becomes muddied. Teachers should provide adequate context so that students are encouraged to engage them more effectively.
The message itself may contain barriers to comprehension. Provocative language may arouse an emotional response in listeners that blocks understanding. Instead of hearing what you're saying, they focus on what they're feeling. If a teacher presents information too quickly, students may miss some of the ideas or fail to process the concepts. Teachers should repeat important concepts, so students have more time to grasp their meaning. A disorganized message can muddy the relationship of one idea to another, so present information in an order that naturally flows from one subject to the next.