[AceJohnny2]

I've used ear plugs as well, to lesser success. Many people are uncomfortable with the pressure it puts on their ears.

I've long been used to earplugs for a while (a couple years in a boarding school dorm necessitates them), but my ears just adapt to the lower noise level. I suppose the noise generator raises the noise floor, so external disturbing sounds have a lower SNR and thus you're less likely to react to them.