Raising volume to overcome noise leads to discomfort and hearing damage

Evidence

One important feature relevant to obtaining good-quality audio listening is the relative levels of the wanted sound and unwanted sound such as local background acoustic noise. In environments such as aircraft cabins where the ambient acoustic noise level is high, it is not easy to obtain good-quality audio. This is particularly the case with the headphones provided to economy-class travelers, which are generally of a low quality that distorts the sound when the volume is turned up sufficiently high to hear the music or film soundtrack. There is also the danger that the overall sound level being presented (wanted signal plus the unwanted background noise) could even cause noise-induced hearing loss (see Section 2.5) depending on the volume of the wanted signal that is set. — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 2562 (#expands, via linked claim)

It is well known that temporary hearing loss results from exposure to any very loud sound. A ringing in the ears is the warning. With adequate quiet rest periods, we appear to recover, but if the exposures are repeated, some of the temporary loss becomes permanent. Whether the hearing loss is temporary or permanent it affects something as basic as one’s ability to detect equalization changes (Kruk and Kin, 2015). — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 1876 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: High ambient noise forces listeners to raise volume toward hearing-loss levels — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 2562; Repeated loud exposures convert temporary hearing loss into permanent damage — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 1876; Good noise isolation reduces preferred playback levels and hearing damage (+5 more)

Broader Connections

• High ambient noise forces listeners to raise volume toward hearing-loss levels #expands (0.92) — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 2562
• Good noise isolation reduces preferred playback levels and hearing damage #expands (0.88)
• Repeated loud exposures convert temporary hearing loss into permanent damage #expands (0.80) — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 1876
• Noise above 85-90 dBA causes permanent hearing damage #corroborates (0.78) — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 678
• Sound peaks above 130 dB can damage hearing instantly #expands (0.75)
• Excessive noise causes widespread hearing damage and tinnitus in the US population #exemplifies (0.72) — George Michelsen Foy, Zero Decibels, 357