I can attend or not to mine, though it's my "entire" right ear. I guess having one okay ear and not "remembering" I'm deaf in one ear helps. It's just a "constant" for me and part of the background. But I know what you mean, I have a heck of a time with nose or breathing squeaks, squeals, whines, other noises when I'm trying to go to sleep at night. I can't stand that.