In communication, noise refers to any factor that interferes with or impedes effective communication between a sender and receiver. Noise can be physical, physiological, psychological, semantic, cultural, or technical.

• Physical noise: This is interference that comes from an external source, such as a loud conversation in the background, static on a phone call, or traffic noise outside a window.

• Physiological noise: This is any physical attribute that affects the way a message is communicated, such as a headache, lack of sleep, or a diagnosed disability.

• Psychological noise: This occurs as a result of personal attitudes, assumptions, and biases, and can be caused by factors such as stress, anxiety, or anger.

• Semantic noise: This refers to miscommunication as a result of the wrong choice of words or language used.

• Cultural noise: This occurs when people from different cultures have different interpretations of the same message, or when cultural differences affect the way a message is communicated.

• Technical noise: This refers to problems with equipment, such as slow connectivity, microphone feedback, or a server that goes down in the middle of an important presentation.

Noise can distract the receiver, causing them not to hear the sender’s message properly, or it can distract the sender, making it difficult for them to communicate the message effectively. Noise can be found in almost all settings and contexts, including face-to-face, groups, and organizational settings. To overcome noise barriers, it is important to establish precisely what the source is and make a plan to overcome it.