Why can't I focus in loud environments?
Larue Boyer
2025-07-03 07:29:57
Count answers
: 13
I have always needed music in the background to make me feel present and grounded. However, background noise is actually an impediment to focus for some people with noise sensitivity, for them, sound can serve as a distraction all its own and silence is golden. I struggled to concentrate in the open office environment because I was unable to tune out everyone else’s conversations while I worked, even when wearing earbuds to play music. I work best with either silence, or soft music that doesn’t have words or even a familiar tune. If it’s a tune that I know, I find myself trying to follow along with it either aloud or in my head, which messes with my concentration on the task at hand. Once I am in focus mode, I prefer silence and get annoyed by distractions. Silence. Definitely silence! I have two young children and, as much as I love them, when I drop them off and get to my home office, it’s bliss.
Broderick Tremblay
2025-06-25 01:13:09
Count answers
: 7
Loud noise has become one of the greatest irritants at work. One study showed that 99% of employees reported that their concentration was impaired by various types of office noise, especially telephones left ringing at vacant desks and people talking in the background. According to another study, 68% of those surveyed become frustrated when sound levels creep just above normal conversation, and they also reported increased fatigue and difficulty in concentrating. Often the reason why sound distracts us is because unwanted sound competes with speech and other important signals. If the level of background noise closely matches or is louder than the sound level of speech, it is harder to hear accurately. If nearby speech is not relevant to your team or your work, it becomes even more distracting. In addition, if you are listening in a second language, then speech needs to be even louder than the background noise.
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