12/30/2025
How does our brain filter out the unwanted noise? It uses a combination of selective attention, predictive filtering, and gating mechanisms to help prioritize relevant sounds and suppress distracting ones. This is called the “cocktail party effect.”
While that is all well and good, did you know our emotional state can impact how we hear?
Stress and anxiety can amplify background noise, making it harder to hear conversations in crowded environments. When we are tense, our normal noise-filtering system in the brain becomes less effective. This means we are unable to hear as well when we are stressed.
If you experience tension or anxiety in crowded spaces, there are a few steps you can take to support your filtering system, such as making quiet time a priority throughout your day. This will improve your overall emotional well-being and your ability to hear in those situations.
If you would like more information about how your brain filters noise, click here: https://renohearing.com/how-does-the-brain-filter-noise/
Reno Hearing Center is your hearing center in Reno, NV. Offering hearing evaluations, tinnitus management, hearing aids, & expert repairs to enhance your hearing health.