I'm a very visual person. Any tips for concentrating on what I hear and not getting distracted by what I see?

Taking notes will help. You have to kook down at the peper or the screen and it will keep you from getting visually distracted.

When listening to someone, you could close your eyes.

Don’t owrry about audio books. I can’t ever get into them either.

The key will be for you to listen to the lecture and construct a visual image of the relationship among the points or concepts the lecturer discusses. Record the lecture to listen later. Try and diagram the relationships you are picturing while you listen live and fill in the details on your diagram when you review your lecture recording soon after the initial lecture. Capitalize on your visual learning skills by using this method.

How about trying to visualize what you’re hearing? Works for me. Also, I don’t know what kind of classes you’re taking, but drawing whatever you hear might help.

or, you know…what he ^ said. @Dr_Lawrence

@randomgirl have you already ruled out any attention disorders? Do you become distracted very easily?

@JoeyOhSoClever: I guess sort of, but only when a) I’m trying to concentrate on something I’m listening to without any visual aid or b) when I’m alone and I’m trying to motivate myself to do something that really doesn’t matter to anyone else. No one really thinks of me as a “spur-of-the-moment” kind of person, and I’m usually the one in a group frustrated that no one is staying on topic. If I have an attention disorder, I’ve just about overcome it by using the right learning techniques and stuff like that. I really think I just need to figure out a technique to help with this one problem. Note taking and visualization should work pretty well. (Also, there’s always that thing called studying that I could do on my own time…)

@randomgirl Oh I see. I am different when in class. Visual things don’t get in the way of my hearing its writing that does. I noticed that if I am taking notes while trying to hear a lecture I usually don’t remember any of the substance of what my professor said besides what I wrote down. I usually miss a lot of important things said. But when I am at home I get distracted by everything. And I actually don’t find incentives to work or study until I realize just how close my deadline is lol. But I’ve noticed it’s pure focus for me. I’ve got to push myself to “want” to do it.

Absolutely agree with @Dr_Lawrence. Also, if you are trying to digest a lecture, have a list of questions to answer. That will help you focus with purpose. The trick is to apply active learning techniques. Also, don’t write your notes conventionally, try drawing them into a mind map or a concept map. See if that helps. Recording is a good plan because at least you can go back to them later. Check if your uni already does this. A number of lecturers at mine do have their lectures recorded. I would also suggest grabbing a friend after the lecture and talking to them about what you just heard. Again, active learning. Share your knowledge so you are processing it again (and again, and again).

And if you don’t like audio books, don’t listen to them. I don’t.

Become a photographer. When it’s your job to look at, notice, and document details, then staring at a blank wall can be a really enjoyable vacation.