But I doubt they all would be screaming for earplugs over common daily noises. But those noises evidently take a toll on your body and your serenity. This continuous background noise can lead to noise pollution, which can increase stress levels and impair cognitive function. Each clink and bang increases stress levels and diverts energy from other cognitive functions. These digital intrusions drive me nuttier than Jack Nicholson’s Jack Torrance character in “The Shining” movie.