What type of interference can negatively impact communication?

Noise is a significant factor that can negatively impact communication by obscuring messages and creating misunderstandings. In the context of public safety telecommunications, noise can be physical, such as background sounds that distract from or drown out the voice of the person speaking, or it can be technical, like audio interference that distorts the transmission. Effective communication relies on clear, accurate information exchange, and noise disrupts that clarity by making it difficult for a telecommunicator to hear or understand critical information.

The presence of noise can lead to missed details, errors in relaying messages, and overall decreased efficiency in emergency response efforts. Therefore, managing noise—whether by minimizing background sounds or using technology to reduce audio interference—is essential for maintaining effective communication in high-stress environments like those encountered by public safety telecommunicators.