Someone who talks a lot but doesn't listen might be called garrulous, loquacious, or a "conversational narcissist," though there isn't one single word; they could also be self-centered, inattentive, or experiencing traits of ADHD, often dominated by an inability to control impulses, leading to poor listening and interrupting others.
Pseudolistening is a barrier to active listening that consists of appearing attentive in conversation while ignoring or only partially listening to the other speaker.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Excessive talking is a common feature of ADHD, particularly in individuals with the hyperactive-impulsive presentation of the disorder. People with ADHD may find it difficult to control their impulses, leading them to interrupt others or dominate conversations.
Why do some people do this?
Compulsive talking (or talkaholism) is talking that goes beyond the bounds of what is considered to be socially acceptable.
Need for Attention and Validation
Some individuals talk excessively as a way to gain attention and validation from others. They may feel that speaking constantly helps them stay relevant in social interactions.
In social settings, adults with ADHD often talk excessively, may interrupt others, and display restlessness by fidgeting with their hands or feet when seated. In contrast, adults with ASD may lack the ability to have sufficient back-and-forth conversation or may be nonverbal with their peers.
A garrulous person just won't stop talking (and talking, and talking, and talking...). Garrulous comes from the Latin word garrire for "chattering or prattling." If someone is garrulous, he doesn't just like to talk; he indulges in talking for talking's sake — whether or not there's a real conversation going on.
Dealing with people who talk too much can be extremely frustrating. Try to set boundaries from the start and stick to them. Remember that your needs matter as much as everyone else's! You don't need to make excuses or give reasons for ending a conversation with someone who talks a lot.
We choose not to listen during moments of discomfort, conflict, or uncertainty. We think it's easier, but it usually just makes relationships more tense and unstable. With kids, failing to listen is part of growing up and learning right from wrong. With adults, it's usually a matter of us deciding to be stubborn.
Personality disorders involve pervasive patterns of unusual behaviors, thoughts, and emotions, making it hard to function, with common signs including unstable relationships, identity issues, extreme mood swings, impulsive/risky actions (like self-harm or substance misuse), persistent distrust, intense fear of abandonment, difficulty with emotional regulation, problems controlling anger, lack of empathy, and trouble with boundaries or self-image.
The goal here is to try to be as clear and intentional about your message in a specific way which will likely lead to being listened to. Hopefully, whoever you're talking to will be able to follow suit and both of you will feel heard, understood, and respected.
True dialogue keeps the focus not on one person or the other, but on both, on mutuality. The most effective tactic with a talkaholic is not avoidance but (ironically) speaking up.
You can also call them chatty or gabby, but either way, they're loquacious. Whenever you see the Latin loqu-, you can be sure that the word has something to do with "talking." So a loquacious person is a person who talks a lot, and often too much.
The 3-2-1 method in public speaking offers frameworks for quick structuring (3 points, 2 types, 1 key takeaway) or practice (3 reads, 2 recordings, 1 peer practice) to enhance clarity and reduce rambling, helping speakers think on their feet by distilling complex ideas into simple, memorable formats, or by refining delivery through repetition and feedback. It's about creating order, preventing overthinking, and making messages impactful by focusing on core elements.
Interrupting: The ultimate conversation killer. One common habit that springs from the desire to be right is interrupting.
A great way to do this is to politely interrupt them with phrases like: “Absolutely, and guess what else…” or “A quick point on that note...”, or “Before you go on….” Notice how these interjections are building on what the person is saying.
Excessive talking is a symptom associated with multiple problems with mental health. This makes it important to properly diagnose your child or teen to develop an effective treatment plan. Common disorders associated with overtalking include ADHD, anxiety, bipolar, and personality disorders.
Change the conversation: If an excessive talker is monopolizing the conversation, suggest a change of conversation or ask a question of someone else in the group. Excuse yourself: Don't be afraid to interrupt to excuse yourself from a conversation. Try to be polite and firm, even if they object.
Fond of talking; chatty; talkative; (also) fluent in speech. In later use sometimes: annoyingly or excessively talkative; garrulous.
Adults can have ADHD.
Inattention: Difficulty paying attention, staying on task, or being organized. Hyperactivity: Excessive activity or restlessness, even at inappropriate times, and difficulty engaging in quiet activities. Impulsivity: Acting without thinking or having trouble with self-control.
The ADHD "2-Minute Rule" suggests doing any task taking under two minutes immediately to build momentum, but it often backfires by derailing focus due to weak working memory, time blindness, and transition difficulties in people with ADHD. A better approach is to write down these quick tasks on a separate "catch-all" list instead of interrupting your main work, then schedule specific times to review and tackle them, or use a slightly longer timeframe like a 5-minute rule to prevent getting lost down "rabbit holes".
Around 90% of autism cases are attributed to genetic factors, meaning autism is highly heritable, with many different genes contributing, rather than a single cause, often interacting with environmental influences during early brain development, though specific environmental factors don't cause it but can increase risk. Twin studies show strong genetic links, with concordance rates between 60-90% in identical twins, and research points to complex interactions of many genes and prenatal/perinatal factors.