I don’t really know how to explain this. It’s like a flex a muscle in my head and I can hear what sounds like air getting pushed through my ears. I can make a constant sound for about 15 secs. Then I have to stop for a second and can do it again. I’ve been able to do this all my life (as far as I can remember). I’m pretty sure that I’m the only one who can hear what I’m doing.
Does this make any sense? Is this normal?
Sorry if this is has been asked, but it isn’t any easy thing to do a search on.
It’s the muscles attached to the eardrums, called the tensor tympani. Its purpose is to keep the eardrum taut under various conditions of pressure, temperature and such. Many people can exert a conscious control over them, to some extent, which results in what is variously described as a rushing, whooshing, rumbling or growling sound in the ears.
ETA: If you get someone with a stethoscope to listen to your ear canal, they might be able to hear it faintly, too.
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.]
Many people can exert a conscious control over them, to some extent, which results in what is variously described as a rushing, whooshing, rumbling or growling sound in the ears.
[QUOTE]
You mean everyone can’t do that? Knock me over with a feather.
I can do it sometimes when I do the Valsalva Maneuver. It feels like air is being pushed into that little hollow area at the base of my ear under the earlobe.
Beats me. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned in my 41 years, it’s that if I’d said that everyone can do it then sure as shit someone would have posted, “Well, I can’t!” So, the many was for that person.
Well, I can crack open my eustachian tubes without the yawning or holding the nose and blowing technique. I just seem to be able to move that random muscle or whatever that opens them up. This allows me to free dive as deep as I want, as fast as I want without rupturing my ears. So, is this the same thing, or am I missing out on another fun physical ability?
Okay, I’m fairly sure after some intensive research that what you’re doing is opening up your Eustachian Tubes and your ears are hearing blood-flow in the same way they do when you put a shell to your ear.
So yea, StinkyBurrito, that’s what we’re talking about.
>Well, I can crack open my eustachian tubes without the yawning or holding the nose and blowing technique. I just seem to be able to move that random muscle or whatever that opens them up. This allows me to free dive as deep as I want, as fast as I want without rupturing my ears. So, is this the same thing, or am I missing out on another fun physical ability?
I can do the same thing. It also happens automatically when I swallow, but I can also swallow without doing it if I want (though that takes a little concentration). Clearly relieves pressure. Most people I’ve asked (not many) say they can’t do this but I’ve found one or two that can. Always wondered how common it was.
I can vary the intensity of the noise from very quite to loud. I can make stuccato noises - I can keep up to 16th notes in 4/4 time.
I can keep the noise up for about 15 secs, I wonder if I could strengthen the muscle with practice for longer endurance. Or, would I even want to? Could I stretch my eardrum too tight?
But, I can’t do one at a time. I’ve really tried. It’s always in perfect stereo.
I am glad that this is a normal thing. It’s not that I thought it was all that odd, but I have never asked anyone else about this in real life.
We should make up a name for this noise. It’s too hard to say “tensor tympaning”[sub]but it is kinda fun[/sub]
I can also roll my tongue - In one, three, or five loops.
