The acoustic reflex causes a dangerous spiral of turning volume up as hearing dulls

Evidence

However, there is an effect called the acoustic reflex (see Section 2.1.2), which reduces the sensitivity of your hearing when loud sounds occur. This effect, combined with the effects of temporary threshold shifts, can result in a sound level increase spiral where there is a tendency to increase the sound level “to hear it better,” which results in further dulling, etc. The only real solution is to avoid the loud sounds in the first place. However, if this situation does occur then a rest away from the excessive noise will allow some sensitivity to return. — David Howard, Jamie Angus, coustics and Psychoacoustics, 690

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the theme that sensory dulling can drive compensating escalation, echoing addictive feedback loops seen in other contexts. — connects to: The acoustic reflex creates a feedback spiral of ever-increasing volume — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 699; Raising volume to overcome noise leads to discomfort and hearing damage; An acoustic reflex desensitizes the ear to protect cochlear hair cells (+1 more)
• SEED: Article angle: the ‘volume increase spiral’ as a general model of how temporary dulling of any sense drives dangerous compensatory behavior.

Broader Connections

• The acoustic reflex creates a feedback spiral of ever-increasing volume #corroborates (0.98) — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 699
• High ambient noise forces listeners to raise volume toward hearing-loss levels #exemplifies (0.80) — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 2562
• Raising volume to overcome noise leads to discomfort and hearing damage #qualifies (0.75)
• An acoustic reflex desensitizes the ear to protect cochlear hair cells #complicates (0.72)