Is selective hearing more than a family joke?

We’ve all probably joked about “selective hearing” — like when teens ignore chores, but perk up when they hear, “we’re ordering pizza.”

But audiologists say selective hearing isn’t just a family punchline. It’s a real neurological process.

“We have this filtering system that allows us to be able to pick up the important sounds,” said Jorge Rey, an audiologist with Hear-USA , a Palm Beach County-based hearing care company with more than 380 centers nationwide.

When that system breaks down, Rey says everyday sounds start competing for attention — creating long-term consequences on quality of life.

“It’s a domino effect,” he explained. “It eventually starts to prevent you [from] going to certain restaurants because it's too noisy, from being able to hang out with family and friends. A