I cant block out talking

I'm not sure if this counts as "mental health disorders", especially as I never considered being an aspie a "disorder", but I cant really debate this with myself very well because even as I am writing this I am having to focus really hard to be able to get the words out of my head.

I cannot block out any speech around me, my mind will auto-process anything and its difficult to think when my head is processing some other speech. I am working on about 10% focus right now and feel like screaming from the effort just getting this far. I cant just demand silence all the time but the same time it has become a real problem at times, and once my mind has tuned into someone speaking it will be stuck on processing any external noise for some time.

Its like I have only 1 track to work with and I have to wrestle the external noise off that track so I can put my own thoughts on it.

I know this isnt some inherent thing. I used to be the opposite. If I wasn't listening I just wouldn't hear you at all. My mum had my hearing tested growing up because I was deaf to anything I wasnt listening to (usually her). So what is some way I can turn this off again? It stops me in my tracks at work, it stops me doing my hobbies at home, but I cant just demand silence all the time at home, thats not fair.

The worst is when my boss is waiting for me to finish something so will start chatting loudly to someone nearby whilst he waits so I cant think and thus cant finish what he is waiting for me to finish. I can lose 10 minutes at a time at work to this.

Does anyone have a way to stop this?

Yes, but it's also a common problem, which is why libraries typically have a policy of silence.

You may not be able to get as much quiet as you need all the time, but you may be able to get more quiet time than you have now if you ask for it. Your boss may be willing to change his behaviors if he knows how much he's interfering.

The combination of foam ear plugs and over-the-ear noise reduction ear muffs can block out almost all noise. It's a low-cost solution, so you might want to give that a try. It might look slightly odd, but produce worthwhile benefits.

I've heard of digital noise canceling headphones, but have no experience with them. Maybe there's a store where you could try on a pair and see how well they work.

This type of thing would happen to me when I did not get enough rest/ sleep, had personal issues going on inside of me and being demanded to complete a task especially at work involving tight deadlines.

I struggle with this all the time. You cannot do things all the time, but for me controlling the noise helps. At home, my mother watches reality tv for about 95% of the day and my mind stays on that I cannot concentrate on anything, because I just hear it. It is there and it loops constantly in my mind and I get what you mean you cannot focus on anything else it overwhelms you, I vomit a lot from the sheer amount of it. But to control it I just put my fan on really loud, I have two fans now to do that. In public or at work it is not always so easy but noise cancelling headphones (which sadly I do not own) help, but, I just play white noise through my earphones at a low volume so it drowns everyone out, but not too loud that people cannot get my attention. It is not always possible and it is frustrating as hell I know and I am sorry my friend. White noise if you are like me is also not always easy you prefer just plain silence, but I found I got used to the white noise with a bit of effort

My husband used to use noise cancelling headphones at work. Might look a tad unusual, but I feel it would fall under a reasonable accommodation.

Have you looked into loop earplugs?