A fireman enters a building where a fire alarm is sounding. After 5 minutes, the fireman reports that the alarm doesn't sound as loud as it first did. This is due to:
A) tinnitus
B) recruitment
C) auditory adaptation
D) auditory fatigue

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Auditory adaptation is the process by which our ears become less sensitive to constant or repetitive sounds. In this scenario, the fire alarm has been sounding for a prolonged period, causing the fireman's ears to adapt and perceive the sound as less intense. Tinnitus is a persistent ringing in the ears, recruitment is a condition where sounds become too loud too quickly, and auditory fatigue is a temporary decrease in hearing sensitivity due to prolonged exposure to sound. None of these conditions would explain the fireman's decreased perception of the fire alarm's volume.

A Fireman Enters a Building Where a Fire Alarm Is