The acoustic reflex creates a feedback spiral of ever-increasing volume

Evidence

In both cases, the levels are under your control and so can be reduced. 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 in which there is a tendency to increase the sound level “to hear it better,” which results in further dulling and so on. — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 699

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 noise-exposure and hearing-loss themes threaded through this reader’s collection on silence and sonic harm. — connects to: An acoustic reflex desensitizes the ear to protect cochlear hair cells; Output-dependent inhibition creates amplificatory feedback that sharpens binaural asymmetries; Brain efferents can dynamically adjust cochlear gain during listening (+2 more)
• SEED: A ‘loudness spiral’ essay: how sensory adaptation in too many domains creates escalating arms races — volume, stimulation, consumption.
• corroborated: 3 independent passages support this claim — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 699; David Howard, Jamie Angus, coustics and Psychoacoustics, 690

Broader Connections

• High ambient noise forces listeners to raise volume toward hearing-loss levels #exemplifies (0.82) — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 2562
• Output-dependent inhibition creates amplificatory feedback that sharpens binaural asymmetries #corroborates (0.78)
• Brain efferents can dynamically adjust cochlear gain during listening #expands (0.75)