The beauty of open-plan offices…no barrier to communication, flow of ideas, people connect, gossip ensues, conversations buzz . . .
But what if you have to actually concentrate to work?
Those who struggle with distracting noise have probably tried it all: Noise cancelling headphones, white noise through earbuds and plain old-fashioned ear plugs. Each approach has its advantages and drawbacks.
Noise-cancelling headphones are perfect for any situation in which there is a constant, low-frequency noise: the constant engine hum of an airplane or a freighter, for example. But the irregular noise of conversations might seep through. High-end noise-cancelling headphones are expensive, but several brands, including Bose, are said to work well in office settings.
White noise played through Apple AirPods can genuinely filter out office noise. But it has a serious drawback for your hearing. According to Rachel Becker writing in The Verge, hearing experts say white noise is deceptively quiet. You might think you are playing a low noise but the noise could be much louder than you think. Sound played loudly and for a long time is the worst possible thing for your hearing.
As it happens, earplugs are probably the best for cancelling ambient noise, and they are an inexpensive solution. They fit tightly in the ears, and unlike with AirPods, the ambient sound doesn't filter in. At the same time they don't jangle your inner ear and affect your hearing. The drawback is that they can be annoying to wear.
Check out the Noise Reduction Rating from 16 to 34. An NRR in the 16-20 will allow you to hear someone speak to you, or allow you to hear music at a concert, but it will lower the general volume. If that isn't enough, you can find disposable foam inserts with very high NRR, although they aren't subtle. For problems not solved by any over-the-counter brand, custom earplugs run about $1,000, and are available from many companies online.