Do you mean real sounds or hypnagogia?
I also can't fall asleep comfortably after waking up this way. Earplugs are good idea. I sleep with headphones lately with some binaural sounds which aren't disturbed for me. I think that some people just are sensitive for sounds and changing it seems to be unnatural for them. But I may be wrong. Maybe meditation will be good way to cut off from the outside world. It rather not disappear itself.