# Why do some vibrations make my ears itch? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 22, 2005, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-vibrations-make-my-ears-itch/313604 "2005-07-22T06:48:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MetroGnome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e7dd6/32.png) [@MetroGnome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MetroGnome)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-vibrations-make-my-ears-itch/313604/1 "2005-07-22T06:48:33Z")
While sitting on the bus this morning with my fellow commuting zombies, I happened to notice that the vibrations travelling through me during the ride (a combination of the bus’ engine + the road texture I’d guess) happened to be that specific frequency that makes my ears itch, or more specifically, the inside of my ear canals. This isn’t a unique occurance. I experience it all the time on occasion, and sometimes only in one ear. It usually lasts only for a brief moment, and if it persists, a change in position (which tends to dampen or otherwise change the frequency of the vibration) takes care of it. It just so happened that this morning, it was so persistent that it gave me a prolonged opportunity to wonder just what the hell causes this. I’m sure it has something to do with resonance, but why my ears? Am I the only one to experience this? Please tell me this won’t become one of those worst-nightmare GQ posts where a seemingly innocent question is followed up by multiple posts to immediately see a doctor… ---
**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-vibrations-make-my-ears-itch/313604/2 "2005-07-22T06:56:47Z")
PulletFiance uses this effect to his advantage when his ear canals are itchy. He makes the Og-awful throat hacking noise that frightens the cats. I’ll stick to jabbing myself with a q-tip. ---
**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-vibrations-make-my-ears-itch/313604/3 "2005-07-22T12:02:23Z")
Just so you won’t feel so alone… I ususally get the “itchy ear” thing when I lean my head on the window of a moving vehicle. Drives me nuts, until I scratch it the best I can. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-vibrations-make-my-ears-itch/313604/4 "2005-07-22T12:11:06Z")
My guess is that when (like you said) the frequency off everything around is just right, it resonates with something inside your ear causing _it_ to vibrate and giving you the itching sensation. When you change position, the frequency of the vibration traveling from the seat into you changes slightly and the resonating stops. Similarly, when I use a sawzall, and the blade is moving at just the right speed (usually at full power) and it’s not gliding through the material smoothly, it makes my arms vibrate and seems to resonate something in my throat giving me a very strange choking feeling. ---
**Author:** ![AlexanderYU](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecb155/32.png) [@AlexanderYU](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlexanderYU)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-vibrations-make-my-ears-itch/313604/5 "2015-08-24T11:15:28Z")
Dont Worry,it happened to me too.every time i ride on a motorcycle my ear itches and sometimes my body creeps.so dont worry you’re not the only one out there.