Have you tried in-ear variants like the bose qc20? I have no problems with them for long periods of time.
Also, as other users have pointed out, noise-canceling just counteracts constant noise like machine hums, and the like. It won't do anything about human speech because it 1.v aries constantly and 2. takes place across a large spectrum of sound. Noise-canceling headphones can adapt but it's always going to lag behind speech or other non-constant sounds like ringtones.
The only recourse there is to use noise-canceling + blast music/pink noise/rain sounds, whatever.
Also, as other users have pointed out, noise-canceling just counteracts constant noise like machine hums, and the like. It won't do anything about human speech because it 1.v aries constantly and 2. takes place across a large spectrum of sound. Noise-canceling headphones can adapt but it's always going to lag behind speech or other non-constant sounds like ringtones.
The only recourse there is to use noise-canceling + blast music/pink noise/rain sounds, whatever.