Sounds during meditation When I practice meditation I focus on the rising and falling of my abdomen and if any thoughts or sensations arise I note them and continue focusing in the breath but I notice that I'm very sensitive to sound. I am acutely aware of all the sounds going on around which is a never ending cacaphony of nearby people, traffic, wildlife etc. I was using earplugs for a long time because I found it too distracting but I decided to stop using them and now I am finding the sounds very much in my awareness a lot of the time and I can't seem to focus on my breath. So I note "hearing hearing" but like how long am I suppose to keep noting hearing ?  If I sit for an hour and the sounds keep capturing my attention do I just keep noting hearing hearing every few seconds in the same way I do for thinking thinking?
Distraction one of the two main obstacles in meditation (the other is dozing off or even falling asleep). Many people get distracted by sound. 

It's normal and as long as you keep getting distracted you have two choices: 
1) keep sitting there, and keep bringing your attention back to your meditation object
2) quit meditating. 
3) change your meditation. (headphones, change in meditation object etc. see below)

There is no expected time limit within which you are supposed to stop being distracted. Distraction happens. 

From the way you describe it - you don't just note the distraction and then get back to meditating. You are also getting annoyed at yourself. So note that too. 

Patience. Patience. Patience. Remember that this is all part of the course &amp; that as you are not living on a mountain somewhere, your conditions are not ideal. So be patient with yourself. I'll repeat myself again: be patient with yourself.

One alternative is that when you don't meditate with plugs (which I do think an excellent idea, btw), is to meditate on sound instead. That way the distraction has become the object. This may change the meditation dynamic. 

Good luck. And remember: the fact that you are still regularly sitting there is in itself an achievement. Don't be too hard on yourself. And perhaps read something by Pema Chodron? She's very good at reminding us of being kind to ourselves.