Which of the following factors is NOT considered a physical communication barrier?

When discussing physical communication barriers, it's important to recognize how they affect the ability to send or receive messages effectively. Hearing problems, visual impairments, and speech difficulties all fall directly under the category of physical barriers, as they involve impairments in the senses or in the physical ability to articulate words.

Noise levels, however, represent an environmental factor that disrupts communication rather than a physical limitation of an individual. While high noise levels can hinder the transmission or clarity of a message, they do not relate to any personal physical condition affecting the individual communicator or recipient. Instead, they are external factors that can affect communication in a broader context, affecting everyone present, rather than a specific individual's capability to communicate. Therefore, noise levels do not belong in the same category as the other options that pertain to individual impairments.