The initial rate, extent, and recovery from auditory adaptation were measured in both the presence and absence of noise in ten normal ears by the method of fixed intensity at 250, 1000, and 4000 cps. It was found that the initial rate and extent of adaptation to a tone in noise were greater than to the tone alone at 4000 cps, but not at either 250 or 1000 cps. Recovery from adaptation to tones in both noise and quiet was found to be equivalent, but never complete, at each frequency. When the noise was sustained in one ear and a tone introduced over the noise at 1‐min intervals, there was a systematic decline in response at 250 and 1000 cps, but not at 4000 cps. When the noise was not sustained, but followed the same periodic intervals as the tone, there was a decline in response at 4000 cps, but not at either 250 or 1000 cps.