Turns Out, Some People Can Make A Rumbling Sound Happen Inside Their Ears And I’m Jealous
There are people that can flex their inner ear muscle, the Tensor Tympani, at will, and I’m highly jealous!
When flexed, this little muscle makes a rumbling sound inside your ear. Sort of like the sound of thunder.
People who are unable to flex this muscle — like me, boooo! — can hear this rumbling sound *sometimes* when they yawn really big, or when they tense their neck muscles or jaw.
Admit it, you just tried to do it. You’re not alone! I spent like ten minutes trying to hear the sound. Ha!
There are documented cases of this cool-ass phenomenon going as far back as 1884, and I’m seriously bummed I don’t have this Super Power!
There are even whole Reddit groups that are devoted to people who are blessed with this ability.
A lot of people who are able to make their inner ears rumble, aren’t even aware there are people who CAN’T do it.
This teeny-tiny Tensor Tympani muscle is usually used to control how loud we perceive something to be. Think thunder, loud horns, shouting, or — God Help Me — chewing.
Tensor Tympani can also sometimes by recreated by clenching your fist, and holding it to your ear.
This isn’t a TRUE flexed Tensor Tympani sound, but you will sometimes hear the sound of the tensed muscle. This gives you a sense of what a tensed Tensor Tympani muscle sounds like.
My random question is: If you can hear this Tensor Tympani muscle rumble, can you also make your ears wiggle?
