A few months back, I changed jobs. My previous job was in a very noisy environment. It did not need to be noisy, but I reported to a person that had the attention span of a retarded howler monkey. He was always irritated at me for my desire for quiet. I am a software developer (among other things), and software development is a creative activity that requires concentration. I can keep my focus for many hours on end, provided I am not distracted by the sounds of other primates. My concentration is so strong, I once drove from Los Angeles, California to Brownsville, Texas, alone, stopping on for fuel, food, and bathrooms - basically non-stop.
I was delighted to come across this article: Easily Distracted By Noise? You Might Just Be A Creative Genius. Laugh at my lack of humility, if you wish, but I am a creative genius. However, what I loved so much about this claim is that it shows just how dull that howler monkey really is.