this post was submitted on 11 Apr 2025
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[–] waz@lemmy.world 63 points 1 month ago (16 children)

This was a really recent realization for me. I am one of the people who can voluntarily activate the tensor tympani muscles in my ears to create a low level rumbling sound. I recently tried explaining this to someone else and they still think I am making it up.

[–] Ludrol@szmer.info 12 points 1 month ago

Let's get ready to rumble!

This superpower is so usless. I love it.

[–] frozenpopsicle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 12 points 1 month ago

Oh...? That has a name? Thanks!

[–] bluewing@lemm.ee 10 points 1 month ago

You are not alone! I have always been able to do that too. It still doesn't help with the tinnitus I've had since I was 4 or 5 though.

What was a revelation to me was the idea that everyone was only sleeping 3 or 4 hours a night. I thought I was perfectly normal in not sleeping for normal time spans. And despite the drugs and cpap machine I'm prescribed, I still can only sleep 5 or 6 hours now and often less. But I often am able to get to REM sleep now.

[–] suodrazah@lemmy.world 9 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Is this not normal?! I can also wiggle my ears, I know that's weird though.

[–] AA5B@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

Yeah, my Dad used to do this to entertain kids, so I worked at it until I could too. It wasn’t easy to learn but real easy to do

[–] borokov@lemmy.world 7 points 1 month ago

I use to control it before, but since I'm on some other medecine, it start to have its own will. It happen to me unvoluntary like every 5 or 10s. That's SO FUCKING ANNOYING !!!

[–] AA5B@lemmy.world 6 points 1 month ago (2 children)
[–] Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 1 month ago
[–] Angry_Autist@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

It's more that most people don't figure out how to tense those muscles independantly of the rest of the neck

[–] epicstove@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 month ago

So THAT'S how you describe it!

[–] taxiiiii@lemmy.world 5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

When I first read this one, I thought it sounded crazy. Then I realized I know what you mean and am able to do it.

Maybe it's normal and it's just the description that doesnt click with people? Anyone in the comments who thinks they can't do it?

[–] Angry_Autist@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago

Fellow rumbler rejoice!

As I kid I thought it activated some kind of telekinetic or telepathic power so i'd keep doing it and gesturing at ping pong balls or candle flames

So sad to learn that it has nothing to do with psychic powers

[–] tempest@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I can do this as well, as can one of my siblings and my father so I assume there is a generic component. Used to call it "ear clicking" since it is audible to others if they put their ear to yours in a quiet environment.

I figured out that was the name when googling about it some years ago.

[–] Ziglin@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Is it just a click or also the described rumbling. Because I don't hear a rumbling but I do make the clicks when I notice that my ears need to adjust to the air pressure.

[–] tempest@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

If you hold it tense you get a rumble as described but the first time I tense it will make a little click. If I keep applying tension and release eventually it will stop clicking and just I'll just hear the rumble and it will take a bit to "reset" to where it clicks again.

Humans are weird.

Edit: I quick kagi search turns up a Reddit thread saying the clicking is caused by "Voluntary Opening of the Eustachian Tubes" which is equalizing the pressure in my ears. That sorta explains why it stops clicking after a bit.

[–] Ziglin@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

If I use the muscles that I use to get the click very carefully I get the rumble too :)

I never noticed it before and now this will be really distracting unless I forget about ASAP.

[–] leadore@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (3 children)

Just to clarify, since I don't know if my experience is what you all are describing: this sounds kind of like what I hear if I start a yawn. Is the rumbling sound just for a second or can you make it indefinitely? And can you also make a short click or series of clicks?

I can get those sounds if I tense up some muscle(s) that you would also use to start a deliberate yawn. The clicks are easy to make, with less tension, and the rumble happens with more tension and it's only for about a second or so. Also I definitely hear the rumble during a yawn. Does that sound like what you mean or am I describing something completely different?

[–] waz@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Yep, the same sound as when you yawn. I can make it happen without yawning. Honestly, I can only make it for 5-10 seconds before I get "tired".

Regarding clicks ..I've no idea what that one is.

[–] Forester@pawb.social 2 points 1 month ago

Weird. I can do it for like a full minute

[–] Angry_Autist@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

When you yawn sometimes you hear a little clicking noise in your ear canals, it's earwax coming into contact briefly and separating, you can do it voluntarily similar to rumbling but I need to open my jaw a little for that effect

[–] WoodScientist@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 month ago

That sounds like what I can do. Both the rumble and the clicks/ear popping.

[–] Angry_Autist@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Rumble and clicks are separate, but the yawn activates all of those muscles so you get them together

It's easiest to just rumble, but I need to open my jaw a little to click

[–] tomenzgg@midwest.social 2 points 1 month ago

'Knew about the rumble; 'just did the clicks for the first time (thanks to the tip about opening my jaw).

[–] conditional_soup@lemm.ee 2 points 4 weeks ago

Wait, not everyone can do that?! What the fuck?!

[–] callyral@pawb.social 2 points 1 month ago

i was able to do that just this morning!! (cant do it anymore)

[–] co_bymusic@lemm.ee 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Did you listen to a podcast when you found out? 😏

Of two German dudes? 😅

[–] funkless_eck@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

it was also on No Such Thing As A Fish recently

[–] waz@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I don't remember where I was made aware of it, but it was probably this. I used to listen to NSTAAF regularly. This fact probably just got buried in the back of my head until it had the opportunity to come out now.

[–] funkless_eck@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

name drop but I know Andy IRL, nice guy.

[–] waz@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

That's not surprising to me at all. He seems like he would be.

[–] kiwifoxtrot@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

You aren't alone. I can do it too.

[–] Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 month ago

Can do that low rushing type of sound as well.