nothacker

I'm a developer and work in an environment that at times noisy and audible and visual distractions usually interfere a lot with my flow (i.e. my ability to be as productive as I can be given no distractions). I am aware that listening to music all day at a higher level can result in hearing loss, so I usually try to keep the volume as low as I can or just turn the music off and keep the earbuds in as a form of less efficient earplugs.

What have you found to be the best remedy for these sorts of distractions? Noise cancelling headphones? (I'd by a pair, but I have a large head and afraid to blow $300 on something that would not work or leave me with sweaty ears.) Ear buds? Earplugs? Asking to move to a different area? Telecommuting?