I know exactly how you feel. Nothing gets me more irritable and cranky than noise. I have often wondered if I am sound sensitive because noises that don't seem to bother others really annoy me. Luckily my apartment is generally fairly quiet, although I wonder about my neighbors with all the random loud bumps that come from their end of the wall between us. Luckily I'm on the third floor so I'm the one vacuuming on others' ceilings.

I definitely put in for earplugs. When I had a very noisy and inconsiderate roommate a few years ago, it was the only way I survived. Basically, I put them in when I got home and didn't take them out until I left the house the next morning. I even showered in them so I didn't have to listen to her slamming doors and coughing (she was sick ALL the time) and generally making other small annoying sounds.