1. Distraction & Task Accomplishment
 Auditory Distraction
At what decibel level does auditory
distraction occur? Is it the decibel level or
the type of stimulus? The mood or the
pathology?
Let’s explore non-pathologic hearing
conditions relative to auditory distraction
and task accomplishment.

2. Distraction & Task Accomplishment
 Auditory Distraction
Sensory and motor cranial nerves are a
part of the auditory pathway (both efferent
and afferent).

3. Distraction & Task Accomplishment
 Auditory Distraction
The thalamus “sorts” sensory and motor
tasks. When simultaneous stimulation is
received by the thalamus, it makes
choices based upon the brains storage
information.

4. Distraction & Task Accomplishment
 Auditory distraction
When the thalamus receives excessive or
more than one sensory stimulus, it relies
more heavily upon the brain
storage/memory to make the efferent
motor decisions.

5. Distraction & Task Accomplishment
 Auditory Distraction
Excessive sensory stimulation requires
the thalamus to make decisions based
upon “memory”.
This event is why auditory deprivation is
so “insidious” when it comes to the
performance of auditory stimulus and
auditory memory.

6. Distraction & Task Accomplishment
 Auditory Distraction
Auditory deprivation reduces the role
auditory memory can have upon the
thalamus “decision/sorting” process.

7. Distraction & Task Accomplishment
 Auditory Distraction
This is one reason why those with long
term untreated hearing loss have more
difficulty with decision/cognitive reaction—
processing.
It can often simulate an Alzheimer or post
stroke condition.

8. Distraction & Task Accomplishment
 Task Accomplishment
Let’s each select a sensory or motor task
and find how we accomplish the tasks with
a variety of auditory stimuli.