A cochlear implant system may include a cochlear implant configured to be implanted within a user and a sound processor configured to detect an amount of sound exposure to the user; gradually adjust a most comfortable level (“M level”) from an initial value towards a target value in accordance with an adaption time course and in accordance with the detected amount of sound exposure to the user by increasing the M level when the detected amount of sound exposure is above a first threshold and decreasing the M level when the detected amount of sound exposure is below a second threshold; and direct the cochlear implant to apply stimulation having the gradually adjusted M level to the user.