#1 - No, his hearing difficulties didn't relate to being in crowds. It had to be with picking up certain sounds which has hampered his english learning. So unless he and his tutor are learning in a crowded bar, I don't think so. And the inability to pick up certain sounds is not helped with a hearing aid. Many people learning english have trouble distinguishing between "b" and "v" such as in "curb" vs "curve".
#2 - I think he understood the question and started off answering it correctly. It was his doubt in his own ability to understand... he is so paranoid that he was going to make a blunder answering the question completely wrong that he made a blunder by asking to restart so many times.
#3 - I have been in that exact situation numerous times... been asked a question in french and I start responding. Just by the puzzled look on the other persons face I get the feeling that I'm not answering what they asked. But often I'm answering their question perfectly - they just don't like my answer.
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