People who only listen if you're responding to a question they've asked

So they ask you something, then when you start explaining it they talk over you, is that what you mean?

Very annoying.

I know someone who does this but possibly worse - they always have a strong pre-conceived idea / assumption in their head and only listen to your answer for as long as required to fill the tiny sliver of ignorance they've allowed themselves to acknowledge. Then, while you're still speaking, they turn to someone else and ask them an unrelated question. The result is that they have no idea how very much they don't know, even about topics they regularly 'discuss' with people.

I've realised two things; that their habitual mode of discourse is 'chairing a meeting' (on the subject of 'their internal monologue') and, that they do not entertain doubt. They only need tiny bits of information from other people, to keep their internal world complete. So, no need to listen actively, look for nuance, use insight, probe surprising comments for further explanation. They have their worldview and their explanations already fully formed.

But, do you make sure you've captured people's attention before you start telling them something? Some people do just chunter on, as if to themselves and it can be hard to know (or care) whether they're actually trying to tell you anything.

In your DH case, it does sound as though you hadn't captured his attention. He had some internal narrative going on. You started talking without alerting him to the fact you were about to tell him something important, so allow him time to shift his focus. So he missed the first part of what you said.

Or he was aware you were talking but also continuing with whatever was going on in his head. So he got 'going out, blahdey blah' and the only thing he thought he needed to know was about the casserole, soe he asked that question.

I think sometimes you have to be really over-emphatic, to capture people's attention.

My husband could probably say this of me sometimes. My side of it is that sometimes I'm reading, or listening to the radio or thinking and he interrupts me starts telling me something and we are a paragraph or two in before I've mentally switched gear and tuned in.

Are you very verbose would you say? Do you expect people to always have their ears at your command? Because I hate the assumption I should always spring to attention just because someone has decided they need to tell me something now.