The relentless hum of a library HVAC system or the chatter of a crowded campus coffee shop can derail a deep-work dissertation session in seconds. For graduate students, headphones are more than just audio devices; they are essential cognitive tools for carving out a private sanctuary in noisy environments. I spent three months testing 15…
Studying with hearing loss often means choosing between the discomfort of jamming headphones over hearing aids or losing the ability to hear your surroundings in a busy campus environment. Traditional over-ear models frequently cause feedback or “whistling” with Behind-the-Ear (BTE) devices, while earbuds are often incompatible with many types of hearing impairment. After testing twelve…
Trying to focus in a dorm room or a busy library when you have ADHD feels like trying to read a book while someone is flicking your ear every five seconds. The “wall of noise” isn’t just a distraction; it’s a physical barrier to executive function. To find a solution, I spent three weeks testing…