Noise masking

Noise masking is a phenomenon where the presence of one sound makes it harder to hear another sound nearby. For example, a loud humming noise can make it difficult to hear softer sounds like speech. This occurs because our brain prioritizes the louder sound, effectively "covering up" the quieter one. Noise masking is used intentionally in audio and hearing technologies to reduce the perception of unwanted sounds, creating a more pleasant listening experience or helping to improve speech clarity in noisy environments.