Responding 'Amen' During Study
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Question
If someone is engaged in study and hears Kaddish, is he obligated to interrupt his study and respond to the Kaddish?
Answer
When the student is in another room and responding 'Amen' disrupts his study, he is not obligated to respond 'Amen'. However, if he is studying in the same room, he must respond 'Amen' during his study.
Source
This is the ruling of the poskim, and they proved it from the Gemara Berachot, page 53a: "The Rabbis taught: when they were sitting in the study hall and light was brought before them. Beit Shammai say: each one blesses for himself; and Beit Hillel say: one blesses for all, as it is said: 'In the multitude of people is the king's glory.' It is understandable that Beit Hillel explains the reason, but what is the reason of Beit Shammai? - They hold; because of the interruption of the study hall." This implies that Beit Hillel's method does not fear interruption of the study hall when responding 'Amen', that is, only when there is a reason for a communal blessing, but otherwise, even Beit Hillel agree that one should not interrupt. Therefore, if these are blessings that do not pertain to him, and indeed disturb him from engaging in Torah, he does not need to respond.
And the opinion of our teacher, the Rav, is that if he is studying in the same room where prayers are being conducted, he is obligated to respond to all the Kaddishes.