January Blog - COMM 160 - Taylor Gray

We are constantly bombarded by barriers to listening that can contribute to various miscommunications. In lecture, we discussed three specific types of barriers to listening: external, internal, and physiological. All barriers that are considered create a large amount of white noise that can make it very difficult to truly understand what someone is trying to convey.

Within the external barrier, you have noises such as stomping, loud music, obnoxious children running around, etc. I have personally experienced barriers like these at my workplace: a restaurant. It can be hard to focus on the requests of the guests in front of you if you are being hit with auditory barriers in every direction.

Internal distractions for listening come from within oneself. Thinking about the homework I SHOULD be doing while listening to a friend discuss her troubles at home poses a very unique barrier to listening. This barrier can go seemingly undetected by the person who is hoping to be understood. They are also very difficult to escape from in many cases. However, it is essential to try to bracket your thinking and focus on the information at hand.

Physiological barriers include things such as being hungry, needing to use the restroom, or even being hung over. No one likes trying to communicate with someone who is “hangry.” The reason being is that they know the person is solely focused on the fact that food is not being put into their bodies and that the very core need for their survival in that moment is not being met. Physiological barriers can be a nuisance to the person experiencing them and can become a great distraction to their ability to comprehend. I know I struggle to think about anything if I need to pee. The struggle is real.

All jokes aside, realizing and accepting these barriers is essential to becoming a better listener and communicator. Sometimes, it takes a little reflection as to why you cannot recall or rephrase any of the words that have been tumbling from your friend’s lips. Noticing that there is a tack poking you in your butt while you sit and removing that tack can change your ability to understand, significantly.