Do you agree? having younger brothers/sisters means you can ignore the background noise?

Question

Do you agree that if you had younger brothers or sisters when you were growing up it trained you to block out the unwanted background noise when necessary, whether the TV's on or someone's talking, in order to perform any mental activity, e.g. reading a book, writing an e-mail. Similarly, if you are not used to someone making noise sinse you were little, you cannot (or can hardly) concentrate with the background noise?

Answer 1

Not necessarily. I was raised in a house full of people and noise and I love/need silence to read. The only thing growing up with a lot of noise did for my was to hone my sarcasm skills. I can't stand disruptions.

Answer 2

Background noise like everything else you are exposed to while growing up affects the way you act. Now does it 'train you"? I can't go that far.

Does listening to certain types of music mean you will prefer that type music when you are older?

Does paying with play-dough as a child lead to you being a potter when you get older?

Life experience help develop who we are, but I don't think they necessarily influence the way you are when you are older. Some kids may benefit from the background noise in developing concentration, some may not. Basically what you are saying is that background noise increases concentration skills.

I think it's a small part of it, but there are so many other influences that can affect the ability to concentration. Some kids may get better at tuning it out....some may have increased hyperactivity fueled by the noise when they are working on something of a quieter nature.

Answer 3

I am the oldest of 7 children, so it is never quiet in my house. To this day I can be watching T.V., reading a book, painting, e-mailing, whatever it is and one of my family members will be talking to me, and I don't hear a thing until they says my name several times and snap me out of it. In fact, I find it hardest to concentrate in really quiet places like libraries, because then the slightest noise seems to stand out and distract me. I'm the type that can have rock music blasting from a stereo while I study for a French test. My mom is an only child and often says she can't even hear herself think if there is classical music playing at a dinner party. This can't be just a coincidence, all my siblings have the same ability to tune out unwanted noise and focus completely on whatever they are doing.

Answer 4

No - I didn't have anyone running around, and background noise never bothered me. I would always study with background noise at home - tv or music playing - and had no problem studying in a quiet library either.

Now I have three kids. When they were babies, I always had background noise for them too - like the tv or radio - so that they would be used to noise, and it doesn't bother them

To this day, we have huge noise levels half the time, and dead silence at others, and it all depends on the mood we're in or what we have to do. For most stuff it doesn't matter, but for rote learning or when all three are looking for help in three different subjects, I will sometimes turn off all noise for a half hour - for my own sake!

Answer 5

Having siblings may help in blocking out unwanted background noise, but not always. I know children who have a difficult time tolerating the noise though the noise may indeed still be a help. If you are sensitive to noise and did not have background noise as a child growing up, it would probably be unbearable.

Answer 6

Yes i agree i have got 5 brothers and sisters and have grown up in a small house full of people so its always been noisey. I can just block out any noise and get on with what i'm doing. I find it really easy to get o sleep aswell if theres noise going on in the background.

Answer 7

I agree to some extent. Having younger siblings who make tons of noise will help some people to concentrate on background noise when necessary. The body has this feedback system, which is the mechanisms of the skin. Although the feedback system responds to temperature, i think the same thing applies for the mind. People tend to follow after those whom they respect alot, and do the opposite of those whom they respect alot yet think that their respected people are doing the wrong things and they cannot do anything to change that. This comes in when the younger siblings make alot of noises and you cannot change the situation. Usually people change themselves to adapt to their situation. however, for people who are extremely sensitive to sounds may not be able to take it. Music prodigys are such people. They are so trained in music that something runs in their mind when they hear noises(eg. noises stimulate their mind, they'll think of how to modify them..). So it's the inner mechanism which takes full control of whether you can or cannot concentrate with the background noise.

Answer 8

i grew up with no siblings in the house and background noise yet i have no trouble at all blocking out noise i don't want to hear. i think if you concentrate on something hard enough then you automatically focus on that regardless of whats happening around you. I actually find it easier to concentrate when the radio or tv is on and i have background noise.

Answer 9

I wish that I could agree!
I have amazing hearing according to my husband. I can hear all sorts of things that he cannot hear.
When we were in Australia we walked along to the next town. I said to my Dad that I could hear a toad. My Dad said that he could hear it to - it was in amongst a field of cicada which were making a lot of noise. My Dad wears aids for both ears.
My hearing is defective because I cannot accept the 'cocktail party' effect, which means that you can block out other noises and still concentrate on the immediate ones, such as local conversation. I can hear the clock ticking on the wall all of the time - imagine how annoying that can be (especially at night!). It has nothing to do with whether you are used to it or not, it is a medical (or physical) thing.

Answer 10

I am an only child, and my house wasn't particularly noisy when I was growing up, but I find that I can easily block out background noise if I need to. I think that this type of 'skill' has more to do with the type of person that you are, rather than the noise levels of your childhood.