4 year old asks us "What did you say?" after being spoken to

Our four year old grandson more often than not asks us "What did you say?" after we have spoken to him.  When we smile and say "Please, will you tell me what I said?" or "I forgot; will you tell me?", he may say he does not know or only repeat some of the words when other times he can repeat it perfectly.  I am concerned he may have a bit of an auditory processing difficulty.  His parents and pediatrician say it is only a habit he has developed.  His teachers at his half day pre-k are working on "first time" to mind or respond so they are aware of it, too.  He had tubes put in his ears after repeated ear infections but they came out on their own after a year.  Would a hearing assessment be appropriate?  

He is wonderfully well behaved, happy, creative, wants to please, loves to learn and a joy to all. This is the only problem ever noticed for this precious child and perhaps that is why I am so aware of it.  As a retired school teacher, I have never worked with a child who asks "what did you say?" so often.  Thank you for your ideas or suggestions.

[kennedydp5]

my daughter is 4 also.  she went through a phase of saying the same thing to us...  but she doesn't do it anymore.  my 4 year old nephew does it sometimes, too.  but i think he only does b/c he flat out doesn't pay attention to anything you say!  :)  the only child i've ever been around that has had tubes in his ears was a 1 year old at the day care i worked at, so i don't know how that can affect things.  but in our case it was just a phase that she went through.  i think she liked to be reassured sometimes hearing a coment twice and actually other times she thought it was funny to make us say it again!  sorry if i'm not much help!

[Me2mommy2b]

If he's following directions and can answer questions about the situation around him or the book you've read (for example), his processing is fine.  Sometimes ear tubes can cause scarring tissue to develop on the ear drum causing hearing difficulties in the future.  It doesn't hurt to check his hearing just b/c he's had ear tubes and has had numerous ear infections.  He might be saying it just because he likes the way it sounds. Good luck.

[Kaylee55]

My son likes to try this on us at times too.  Usually it is when he does not want to do what I have asked him to do.  I started telling him that I don't repeat myself and if he did not hear it the first time then too bad.   Amazingly enough he was listening but though it was funny to make me repeat things to him.  I don't know if this helps or not but it is what worked for me.