AN ACR B737-200 FLC CLBS ABOVE THEIR ASSIGNED ALT WHILE INVOLVED IN A SERIES OF MISHAPS DEALING WITH THEIR COM EQUIP. THE CAPT BEGINS CORRECTIVE ACTION AS THE CTLR CLRS THEM TO A HIGHER ALT.

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FO FLYING; CLBING THROUGH APPROX 13000 FT MSL TO ASSIGNED ALT OF 14000 FT MSL ON RADAR VECTORS FROM ZID ON FLT IND- MDW. CAPT IS PNF; HANDLING RADIO COMS. ZID GAVE US A HDG CHANGE AND FREQ CHANGE AS ACFT NEARED 14000 FT. AS I; THE FO; LEANED FORWARD TO CHANGE HDG BUG ON HSI; MY HEADSET CAUGHT ON THE CTL YOKE AND PULLED OUT OF MY EAR PARTIALLY. I SIMULTANEOUSLY NOTICED CAPT DID NOT RESPOND TO ARTCC COMS. AS HE BECAME AWARE THAT HE HAD MISSED AN ATC COM AND TRIED TO RESTORE HIS HEADSET/COM PANEL OP; I REINSERTED MY HEADSET EAR PIECE AND ANSWERED ARTCC; AS I TURNED TO THE NEW HDG. AFTER ALL THIS COMMOTION AT ONCE WE BOTH REALIZED THE ACFT ALT WAS GREATER THAN 14000 FT. I LEVELED AT APPROX 14300 FT TO 14400 FT AND BEGAN DSCNT TO 14000 FT AS ATC CLRED US TO 15000 FT. HUMAN PERFORMANCE CONSIDERATIONS: STICK TO BASICS -- AVIATE FIRST; NAV AND COMMUNICATE SECOND. FAST PACED AVIATION ENVIRONMENT ENCOURAGES US TO TRY TO DO EVERYTHING AT ONCE AND LOSE SIGHT OF PRIORITY ITEMS; AND DISTRS CAN FURTHER COMPLICATE MATTERS.