Twenty subjects, both male and female, were exposed monaurally to Gaussian noise at intensity levels of 100, 110, and 120 dB SPL for 3‐min duration. Békésy‐type threshold tracings at 2000, 4000, 6000, and 8000 cps were determined for each subject and a comparison between pre‐ and post‐fatigue thresholds constituted a measure of temporary threshold shift (TTS). Each subject participated under conditions of (a) listening to the noise in one ear, and counting the “breaks” in the noise field during the 3‐min test period; and (b) hearing noise in the one ear but also listening to a story being told in the opposite ear, with the knowledge that each would be tested on the passage following the 3‐min period. The amount of auditory fatigue was shown to vary as a result of “focusing” in the opposite ear at the 110‐db‐SPL condition. It was shown that more TTS resulted in the test ear when the subjects were concentrating on the message being presented in the opposite ear.