Maybe it 's just "the age" but watch him.  One of my son's was dx with Asperger's Disorder at age 9.  I thought he just didn't listen or pay attention.  My husband thought it was a hearing problem.  We were both wrong.

As the mother of 16 and 14 year old boys, I can say with assurance that this condition does not last long - I think they grow out of it by about the age of 35 *sigh*.  (No offence to the men of the group - but I am surrounded by testosterone - even the pets are all male)

Some tips for you -

Chores need to be written down and stuck to the fridge - check each day that it hasn't been covered over.

Keep it simple - their brains shut off after more then one sentence from a female.

Make sure they keep a homework diary for school - now is the time to talk to teachers and advise them that "the age" has hit with a vengance.

Take up squash, or martial arts.  You, not him.  You are going to need an outlet for the frustration of dealing with teenage boys.  Nothing like belting the hell out of a little black rubber ball with a great big raquet.

Good Luck - my thoughts are with you.

Seriously, get your hands on a copy of Steve Biddulph's "Raising Boy's" its a great read for mothers of sons and helps to explain why their brains seem to suddenly switch off... its largely hormonal, and has plenty to do with their body preparing for the changes it's about to encounter.. He states that boys need order and structure and fairness..my boy is 6 and i can't recommend this book highly enough.. it certainly answers many of the questions we parents have no clue about..     

One interesting fact is that betwen the ages of 11 and 13 (naturally this is only a guide, it could differ slight from child to child) a boy's testosterone levels will increase by 800% of the levels of toddlerhood.. 800%!!!.. no wonder our poor sons are dazed!!!           

ok is he just like this when you ask him to do things he dosent want to do ,, or is he like this also when hes told something good ? eg..

question a.  lets go to the shop and buy you that game you want ,,,  no problem with his hearing if he responds to that one fast

  B.. or can you help me hang out the washing and do your homework etc,, is this when he dosent listen to things or doordles?

if its to responding to A then something could be bothering him or it might be a hearing problen to get checked out incase

if not then its B question then its motivation .. daydreaming  or something is bothering him

ask him ...

Ive got twins and they have selected hearing they will always jump when its for them other than that they are slower to do things

so Ive got a reward system in place

mine are older though but we have been going through this for years as well \

homework they get rewards ,, they clean their room i got rewards nothing big but it gives them something to work towards  so far so good ,, we have a few off days but thats also to be expected

the hormones get worse ive found as they get older . they are too young as teens to play with their toy cars but not old enough to go out ,, so i put my boys into kickboxing that has helped them a whole lot ..

any type of sport or intrest helps to keep the child focus and movitated

hope anything that i have said will help you in anyway ,,, all the best Debbie

i am going though it now with my ten year old, he just switch off , i have to ask him more then twice to do a job.I hoping this want last long and his brain turns back on  lol.

I think its just a stage they go though at this age