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Audio therapy is very helpful -- quiet brown noise in the background can be very helpful for assisting focus.

This is one of my favorites: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqzGzwTY-6w

I work in an open floor plan with music on in the background. I find it immensely distracting but 80% of my office are basically hourly phone support staff. I'd find that job so monotonous that I empathize with them wanting music.

My solution was a pair of noise cancelling headphones and either really ambient music or brown noise like you mentioned. I've found it to be very effective with helping maintaining deep focus.

As I approach 40 the tinitus is starting; not to bad though, knock on wood.

I fear that the solution to a noisy office being "add more noise" will cause hearing damage.

The proper approach IMHO is to reduce incoming noise then add some of your own to mask it. I'm not a big fan of audio canceling headphones (I'm one of those that finds the perceived 'pressure' distracting and disconcerting), but in-ear buds or headphones already block a lot. Foam tip earbuds are even mor effective. Add some quiet brown noise to mask what's left, and you should be good.

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