This must be why I find it so difficult to talk to people about important things. If you explain something to me verbally, I will not get it. I will hear you, and I will listen intently, and I will have no idea what you just said.

Not that I wouldn't know what you said, but I won't have a deep understanding, I won't be able to use what you said to get work done. This is especially bad with phone conversations.

But if you write it down, then we're talking. I can digest written stuff extremely well.