Habituation to steady-state background sounds (consistent white noise, constant mechanical hum) does occur with repeated exposure — the brain down-regulates the orienting response to predictable sounds. But habituation does not occur for intelligible speech and does not eliminate the ISE. The ISE operates at the level of automatic phonological processing, below the level of conscious attention where volitional discipline operates. Practice, experience, and motivation do not override it. Acoustic enclosure is the only complete resolution.