Can you read in a noisy environment? Do you prefer to read to music, and if so, what kind? Or do you need silence when reading? Has this changed over time?

General
1

Can you read in a noisy environment? Do you prefer to read to music, and if so, what kind? Or do you need silence when reading? Has this changed over time?

2

It’s normally really hard for me to read with too much noise / music, the one major exception is when I’m on a flight, then I crank up the tunes and read away!

3

I normally prefer quiet while reading. However there is always some type of noise in the house. The dogs barking at other animals outside or people walking their dogs and sometimes my husband watching sports. Unfortunately my concentration is worse as I age.

4

I used to be able to read anywhere, at any time. I could read while the TV was on, while the radio was playing, while people were talking to me…The only exception to that was always music. I ended up tuning in to the music rather than reading.

Nowadays I find that it’s very dependent on where I am at the time. If I’m on the bus, or if I’m in a doctor’s office, or something like that, no problem, I can tune everything out & read. But at home it’s another story. I absolutely can’t read while the TV is on or if music is playing. My poor hubby has to wear headphones to watch NetFlix, haha. (Of course, he’s also losing his hearing, so him wearing headphones is actually a win-win.)

1 Like
5

I prefer to read in quieter settings but find I do pretty well tuning out people…and when I can’t, out come the noise-cancelling ear pods or headphones.

6

Growing up as the eldest of five I learned to filter enviromental noise early, so I can read at any noise level. Music can be distracting, but I find new age, instrumental jazz, and light classical to be a great background. My father built for me only a treehouse for reading purposes. I have always loved reading outside with the sounds of nature as background.

1 Like
7

I can read through about anything, but I don’t like to have music in the background. I enjoy reading on the deck in nice weather, but have found I get easily distracted by the wind, the birds, traffic on the road, and other sounds of living.

1 Like
8

I need a quiet environment to read.