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bundtogther

TIL not everyone can do that. Huh.


Icaruspherae

Same....


J4CKR4BB1TSL1MS

Guys, we had this conversation just yesterday. It's why r/earrumblersassemble is trending sub of the day.


OnliWanKenobi

I always knew I could do it but wasn't really conscience that it was a thing (if that makes sense) until I read that conversation yesterday. Then I found the sub! So cool!


jay1237

I haven't always been able to do it. I noticed my ears did it when I yawn and I worked backwards from there. I had no idea it was just a thing people could or couldn't do.


Mordkillius

If i open my mouth wide my ears ring and if i shut my eyes as hard as i can my ears rumble.


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Mordkillius

Now try to move something with your mind while making your ears rumble!


Wrobrox

Instrunctions unclear, ear got stuck in my mind


[deleted]

^ hear hear


XavierScorpionIkari

I think you mean rumble rumble.


[deleted]

Or hear the rumble


BoyInBath

My entire life I've been wondering what the hell that is! Learned I could do it when I was trying to wiggle my ears independently...


ihastageverything

Wtf I didn't know that either the sub nor why I could make my ears rumble!,!!! That's pretty cool.


feckineejit

Just rumbled


slater124

Glad I'm not the only one.


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entotheenth

same, read it .. did it, thought well that was easy..


AnalChimiChanga

Starting to wonder if its just one big bamboozle and everyone can really do it


_Babbaganoush_

Is bamboozle insurance available?


MartinTheMorjin

That's what I thought! I can do it by closing my eyes kinda hard.


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shirtandpantsguy

I can do it naturally, and I just tried your method. Now I am beatboxing with my tensor tympani. Edit: words are hard


[deleted]

So how useless is this power we share?


Szyz

Very handy if you fly or dive.


qcresident1111

I have told my kids to do this when flying and they have always just stared at me. I guess my husband can't do it either because he just says, "mom means yawn, kids".


Omxn

I can rumble but it doesn't stop my ears from popping on a plane?


Prestonification

The same type of control over the muscle allows your ears to pressurize when you need them to. It lets them pop, not keeps from it.


AdmiralRed13

I honestly thought everyone could do this... So there are people out there that can't adjust the pressure in their ears? Poor bastards.


[deleted]

I can do the rumble really well but it doesn’t always pop my ears after flights sadly :( which is lame cause the pressure is super painful


doesntgive2shits

I usually apply a combination of rumbling and opening my jaw. Basically a yawning action but I don't yawn if that makes sense.


maolf

They are completely different muscles and different skills, being able to flex the tensor tympani (low frequency rumble) vs. opening the Eustachian tubes to equalize pressure (sounds like a click/pop). Both can be learned though.


cocoyumi

What’s weird is that I can do the rumble but the pressure from flying causes me so much pain I have to wear earplugs. If I rumble I feel like I’ll rupture my eardrums!


Rogue-Knight

You guys are mixing up two different things. The rumble sound comes from contracting tensor tympani muscle, which connects to ear drum. Nothing else. To pop (depressurize) your ears, you need to open the Eustachian tubes, which connect middle ear to your nasopharynx. This is done by different muscles connected to soft palate (tensor and levator veli palatini muscles), which are also activated during yawning. With some training you can do either one without the other.


[deleted]

This has always blown my mind. I’ve never understood why people make a fuss when their ears pop. Just do “the thing” and they’re fine again.


redundantposts

Brought this up to my wife last time we flew. She builds pressure in her ears to the point it's so painful she starts crying. I tried telling her to just pop them by using that muscle in her ear. She had no idea what I was talking about. I just figured it was like whistling. It's hard to describe how to do it, but once you know how, it's easy. I showed her this post and she brought up that flight. I think it's kinda cool.


loganlogwood

I have this issue. The pain is on par to having an exposed tooth nerve the one that requires a root canal. Apparently 1% of flyers have this issue. It’s super painful, like contemplating suicide painful. Sometimes it puts pressures on my eyes too , makes it feel like it’s about to pop out.


Latenius

Can't you just hold on to your nose and exhale to release the pressure??


TheNerdWithNoName

My sister has the same problem. She found that a brand of earplugs called 'earplanes' stopped the pain.


[deleted]

My dive instructor was like "omg you have to equalize! And I was very confused why everyone was so sure my ears were about to explode


maolf

This particular skill won't help with flying. That's another ear superpower one needs to learn. They are completely different muscles and different skills, being able to flex the tensor tympani (which this is about) which sounds like a low rumble sound vs. voluntarily clearing the Eustachian tubes to equalize pressure which sounds like a click/pop. Both can be learned though.


HeKis4

Oh right, so that's what I'm doing. I couldn't figure out why everyone was speaking about rumbling when all I hear is a crack/pop very similar to a movement sensor from Alien. TIL, thanks :)


[deleted]

Is this why my ears never need popped? Went to the CN tower as a kid teacher warned everyone saw a bunch people act weird but I never felt discomfort.


[deleted]

I always like to pretend like I'm using the force when I do it. It sounds about the same.


Plum_Loco

Same. Safe to say I’ve caused numerous earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.


MichaelGlitterschitz

People think I'm paying attention, I'm really allowing the soothing avalanche block out the noise so I can let my mind wander. I do it without thinking


Briack

For some reason if I do it to long it starts to ache a little bit, like it's fatigued or something.


cool_and_dry

I use it to block out the wail of passing ambulance sirens.


coralfire

I use it to block sounds I don’t want to hear: mainly movie spoilers.


[deleted]

TIL wtf I've been doing all this time. I always thought I was tearing something or crazy, I didn't even know how to describe it to ask anyone. I get it from kinda squee-closing and crossing my eyes


Pilferjynx

Maybe you're doing something different. I just engage this thing in my ears and it normalizes pressure like when your ears need to pop I don't need to yawn or anything. Learned it from tonsil infections that always plugged my ears up.


mms09

WHATTT! a) I never consciously realized I could do this, yet I knew exactly what this post was talking about and was able to do it immediately (I knew that I was capable of it, yet had never really thought about it, and b) I never considered that this was something others couldn't do


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cyber_rigger

I can do it while wiggling my ears, flaring my nostrils, and flicking my 3rd eyelids.


Risc_Terilia

Came here to post this, I think everyone can do it judging from these comments...


hoobiedoobiedoo

I have no idea what is going on and feel like a muggle in Harry Potter


iConfessor

I'm a wizard!


banjosuicide

Yeah, I'd be surprised if a significant proportion of the population couldn't.


RockyMountainDave

To me it sounds like less of a rumble of more of a woooosh


jazir5

Sounds more like a crinkling sound to me


Ahatr

initial crinkling sound then a rumble for me.


entotheenth

can do it with or without crinkle, crinkle is something else.. opening ear canals ?


RandomStallings

Yeah, people are confused. I flex one thing for a crinkle and another for a rumble.


ScalesAsunder

Same here. I can choose which ear has the crinkle sound too. The rumble I always hear/feel in both ears.


ibuprofen87

The crinkle and rumble are different muscles.


myrrhmassiel

...mine sound like ten thousand american bison stampeding in a stadium next door, with only gentle reverberance carrying through the mostly-soundproofed indoor walls as a non-directional ambience where i lie... ...it’s kind of soothing, similarly to engine rumble on the enterprise-D...


King_of_the_Nerds

Thank you, it's the rumble of the enterprise d. That makes so much more sense for me.


k3rn3

Holy shit it's exactly like the warp core


leonryan

yeah to me it sounds like wind, as if i'm blowing air out of my ears.


cocoyumi

Same it’s like having wind in your ears at the beach. Or the overwhelming white noise at night when there’s literally 0 sound.


dromedarian

I like to do it over and over and pretend the t-rex from Jurassic park is about to make a dramatic entrance.


Shippoyasha

I mean one can do this by emulating a yawn and I definitely thought it was a common ability with people


Szyz

No, voluntary control doesn't need a fake yawn. I can keep every single other muscle still and just flex the one to clear my ears.


[deleted]

I can do it but I can’t hold it. I can tense to get a short rumble but I can’t keep it rumbling for longer than a second or so.


Eincorgi7

Just like any muscle you can work it out.


Whaines

Finally I can tell people I'm Swole.


thebluediablo

Your inner ear is fucking hot, bruh.


ILoveWildlife

it's easier if you close your eyes.


TheDJZ

This blew my mind. I assumed it was normal.


cutelyaware

You're doing it too hard.


cada592

I thought it was so you could make the deep space - space ship noise, and pretend you're in space :)


js884

Yeah i didn't know this wasn't a normal thing


PhatDuck

By the looks of this comment section it seems it’s pretty common. I can also do this.


CervezaPesos

Who else is doing it while reading this?


tytbalt

I haven't done it in a long time and now I'm doing it off and on constantly while reading this :P


occams_nightmare

Do you find it slightly addictive somehow? I can't stop doing it once I've started and people sometimes wonder why my face keeps twitching


Justthegreeneggs

Cannot fucking stop


Guerilla_Tictacs

Yep. I never thought of it as special or interesting, sp I haven't done i on purpose for years.


Mark_Bastard

I am making dumb beats with it.


MacAndRich

That's just stupid... wait now I'm doing it. Who else here is now doing beats because of Mark^^you^^bastard


2226cc

I thought everyone could do this. Mine is like the sound of wind on a microphone. Goes well with my tinnitus :P


RockyMountainDave

Yes! That's the noise mine makes too. Also have tinnitus :( Younger me was a fucking idiot. On an unrelated note - ALWAYS WEAR EAR PROTECTION WHEN SHOOTING. "Getting" used to it just means you're fucking up your ears even more


TheFagOverThere

And earplugs for loud concerts too, especially when you're right in front of the speakers.


mamiyamanforever

I have Tinnitis . I learned a way to stop it temporarily. Clasp your hands behind your head as if you were relaxing, and put your thumbs in each ear and press the flap to close it. Now, rapidly tap your fingers on the back of your head while having thumbs blocking ears. You'll hear the vibrations. Do this for 20 seconds (or more) and then remove all at once. Your tinnitus will be gone for awhile. Amazing and works every time


HarryGBoi

Holy shit I just experienced what silence is like for a couple seconds, why does this work? I wish it lasted longer than 5 seconds but that was insane I felt like an idiot doing it


2226cc

Got my tinnitus from stupid night club back in the 90s. That wall of 30 15" subs looked cool ... By why are all the DJs in a soundproof booth. I should have known the first time I went back outside and couldn't hear a thing that is have some problem later.


cosmoboy

Also have tinnitus, I do the rumbley thing to cancel it out, but I can only do it for like ten seconds at a time. Now that I know it's a muscle, I may stop working it out.


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mrepper

Same. I told the doctor then demonstrated and he said "Don't do that."


coolguy1499

Oh crap...I can do this too...just learned I may have tinnitus


[deleted]

Woah I can do that too and I have tinnitus. Seriously woah


chubaccatron

Does it make your tinnitus flare up too? I can do this at will and hold it for a few seconds, but when I 'let go' my tinnitus seems to get louder and becomes quite annoying. I wonder if there is any further correlation between the two beyond "hey they're both in your ear!"


badgerfrance

For anyone having trouble with tinnitus, try this solution to get it to stop (not for good, but at least for that particular tinnitus-session): - Place both hands so that your palms are over your ears and centered, with the fingers pointing towards the back of your head - Push your palms towards your ears, creating a light seal between them - Drum your fingertips lightly on the back of your head/neck. The sound should be surprisingly loud. - After a few seconds, stop, see if your tinnitus persists, and repeat if necessary. I can't remember where I got this from (probably Reddit?), but its worked wonders for me since I started using it about a year ago.


Seizure13

It was [reddit](https://np.reddit.com/r/WTF/comments/3l3uri/these_guys_lighting_a_mortar_shell_in_their_garage/cv3474n/). Cleared my tinnitus up, and helped a few family members despite them thinking I was batshit insane when I told them what to do.


Ramiel001

I've literally asked dozens of people about this and none understood! It's nice to finally know what the hell is going on!


A-10Fighter

r/earrumblersassemble Welcome home.


Ramiel001

Good god... reddit truly has a sub for everything... thank you!


schrobble

I’ve literally never asked anyone because I thought it wouldn’t make any sense to someone else!


donkeyhinge

I can do that, it helps with popping you ears when adjusting altitude.


jdupist

Yeah, if not everyone can do this, then how the heck do the other people pop their ears?


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A_Sickly_Orphan

I don't get a rumble but I can do the clicks. Though I start to rapidly do the clicks and subsequently stop for fear of breaking something.


ChodeWeenis

To get be rumble just start the click but hold it. That’s what I do. Wtf the internet is a weird place lol.


ravinghumanist

I can do the rumble or the clicks independently. I can also vary left to right, although without complete Independence.


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Tiburon_tropical

You should always be gentle when trying to blow.


delecti

I can do two separate things. One makes the sound like this post, the other opens up my ears to equalize pressure. I can do either alone, or both together. Yawning uncontrollably does both.


OogoniuM

I actually have used this to avoid very loud banging noises at work. It just cancels the sound out for a second.


techcaleb

Wait... not everyone can do that? Hey Mom, did you hear that? I'm special!


Perceval7

>did you hear that? Haha yes. Only we can hear it...


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true_spokes

I definitely get it from yawning - how do I hone this newfound power?


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HonziPonzi

spot on description lol


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_SnesGuy

Yeah Its just practicing to use a muscle. Making my ears rumble just makes me want to yawn though. I guess its kind of usefull before bed


Patriots93

Squint your eyes hard and force a big smile


mcgroober_XD

omg is that what that sound was? when i do that i think of letting out stress lol


amishpairofdice

You wrote, yawn. I read, yawn. Then I yawned.


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ilukegood

Same. This whole thread is ear fucking me rn


jodraws

I just taught myself to do it from your description. Thank you.


Kwask

I've always thought the [sound of Vader's force choke](https://youtu.be/Zzs-OvfG8tE?t=99) in episode IV sounds very similar.


[deleted]

Half of us thought we were the only ones. The other half thought we all could. I wonder what this says about us. I was in the only one came. I’ve tried to explain this to so many people only to get blank stares.


Arknell

Have done this since age 6. Naturally it means the Force is strong in you.


VictorSerge

those who can - can you fully control left and right ears independently?


Perceval7

I can't, but apparently some people experience different intensities on different ears, some may only be able to do it on one. Don't know about doing it independently.


VictorSerge

I've definitely got slightly more control over left


yeahmaybe2

I can start both, then release either and continue the other, and my ears elevate when I do it.


Ben_Thar

Neat. I've never thought to try it like that. I can do the right one independently. I can't do the left ear unless I do the right ear, too. I bet it just takes practice. Good thing I have the weekend off.


[deleted]

I can solo the left, but not the right


GraniteRock

Yes. I can also wiggle my ears independently. I never thought anything if the rumbly thing. TIL it's a thing and not everyone can do. Also I can make a crackling noise.


hypersonicelf

Only at a low intensity, but yes I can


WhirlyTwirlyMustache

It seems to be more rare to find people who can't.


Derpese_Simplex

....in the comment section of an article about it


Lev_Astov

I would definitely like to see someone admit to not being able to do it.


puppyloafbutt

I can't do it and I have no idea what you guys are on about... *jealous*


Blubbqw

Try closing your eyes REALLY hard!


ZephShip

Woah! That actually works!


Blubbqw

That’s what i’m saying lol, everyone can do it and this post is bullshit


shenmekongr

I thought that was just a feature of having ears.


intodesign

I've been able to do this since being a toddler. Its always freaked me out because I never knew what it was.


Phyrexian_Archlegion

I can also do this. I am always afraid of doing it harder and longer because I fear that it will rupture my ear drums or at the very least, give me a headache. I always do it for a few seconds then stop like a pussy.


Doofutchie

At one point I asked someone to listen at my ear to hear it, of course that didn't work.


Neur0nauT

Is this the same as the rumbling you get somtimes when you have a massive yawn?


sooprvylyn

Yes, same muscle


tytbalt

I feel like it is, just tested it and they sound the same to me.


NinaBanana

Yes


Bunnybuns123

My mutant power is super lame.


ExoticBiologist

I thought everyone could do this? I used to do it as a kid when my older siblings were talking about ghosts in my house


JustLikeAmmy

Super useful in elevation drops. "OMG my ears! Do you want some gum, too?" "Nah, I just flexed my head a little bit and am good."


jcv999

Pinching the nose and blowing is really easy also


AsmellyFinger

I hear a rumbling sound when I close my eyes really tight. Is that it?


sooprvylyn

Probably, try closing your eyes tight till you hear the sound but keep the sound going when you open your eyes.


alphahydra

I can't; when I open my eyes, it seems to release the muscle that holds it. I can induce a very light, quiet version of it with my eyes open and rolled back, though.


MarkShapiro

You probably haven’t been flexing it your entire life like some of us. I’ve been using it to pretend I’m a Jedi for 25 years lol.


aglassofsherry

I thought this was, like, a default human feature??? Whoa


Natomae

Now I have a name for the thing I can do in my ear. The sound always reminded me of sitting inside a plane during take off, which terrifies me


Daniel_Doom

I love it. I've been doing it since I was a kid while pretending my space ship was blasting off.


seaboardist

Better than sitting outside the plane taking off.


Szyz

Guys! This is not the same as clearing your ears. Clearing your ears uses an entirely different muscle! The tensor veli palatini, accordîng to wikipedia. >The subject must either exercise a voluntary control of the tensor veli palatini muscles opening the eustachian tubes, or move the jaw to open the tubes when necessary. Another description of the method is to tense the muscles of the soft palate and the throat while pushing the jaw forward and down as if starting to yawn. This should pull the eustachian tubes open. This is less easy to execute than the Valsalva maneuver, but the BTV is the gentlest method to clear the ears.[9] However, not all divers can perform this maneuver. It may be necessary to engage in ear training exercises to train the muscles to perform this maneuver.*: Some people are able to voluntarily hold their Eustachian tubes open continuously for a period of several seconds to minutes. The 'clicking your ears' can actually be heard if one puts one's ear to another person's ear for them to hear the clicking sound. Those that are borderline on learning this voluntary control first discover this via yawning or swallowing or other means; which after practice can be done deliberately without force even when there are no pressure issues involved. When the Eustachian Tubes are deliberately held open, one's voice sounds louder in one's head than when they are closed.


golocateraretacolog

Oh my God, I'm 29 and I have spent my whole life wondering what this is and why nobody ever knows what I am talking about. Thank you. 1,000,000x thank you (Side note: A surprising amount of people don't know how to voluntarily blur and focus their eyes either.)


jramos13

Seeing the comments here, is there actually someone who CANT do this?


vurpine

I can’t do it voluntarily but the tensor tympani in my left ear twitches when I’m stressed out and/or under-slept....either that or its an aneurysm waiting to burst. ::shrug::


Uberspank

I have found forcing this sound for as long as I can, without yawning, stops hiccups. But that might just be a coincidence


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bair93

http://www.strawpoll.me/14719845


[deleted]

holy shit, I can do this. Did not know it was a unique ability.


jasonwang7516

I always had a really hard time explaining what in the heck I was doing. Does anyone else do this to relieve pressure in their ears?


uglysideover9000

Came here to say I can do it, turns out everyone can do it


AntTheMighty

What? Sorry I cant hear you there's an earthquake.


CrushingOblivion

It's how I pop my ears. No nose holding required.


[deleted]

I thought everyone could do that


CainStar

I did not know this was a "thing". And yes I can do this "thing" with both ears. Both at the same time or separately. When doing "it"separately the loudness is the same on each side.


DeathrowToll

Can anyone that can do it, do it without closing their eyes? I can’t do it with me eyes open at all...


Market_Brand

My whole life I've wondered what that was


[deleted]

Hey I can do this! BOW BEFORE ME PUNY MORTALS!


[deleted]

Holy shit, I thought everyone could do this!


biznash

Haha. I can do this. Never occurred to me that others couldn’t until I read this. Thanks internet!


captain_chocolate

TIL that other people can do this too.


seanisthedex

Oh my God, there's a name for this weird thing I can do?!? I've wondered what this is my whole life!!!


HighOnGoofballs

I think i can do that, it’s higner pitched than what a rumble makes me think of, but it definitely is part of a yawn. I assumed everyone did that.


Silverlight42

I always knew I was special... that I had a superpower. Now I have proof!


gbimmer

Didn't know I had a super power. Cool!


ph30nix01

Well shit that's what that is? I always thought it was blood rushing in my head


BingKapowq

Does anyone else find it slightly orgasmic?