Voluntary Ability to Tense Muscle in Ear Which Extremely Amplifies Hearing

[Liam Harte]

Hi all,
I am fully aware that this may not have something to do with tinnitus - but I have grown very curious about what this could be.

1) Myself:
My name is Liam, 15. At will for many years, I have been able to tense/flex a muscle inside my ear (which is what I assume it is) which makes every sound I make amplify. A lot.

2) Backstory:
I think it must have started when my granddad taught me to wiggle my ears, which I know is a fairly common ability. However it was through trying to do this that i think i found out my "ability".

3) Explanation:
While I tense this muscle, everything from breathing, chewing, humming is made much louder than normal. This includes my heartbeat, which I am usually able to hear at will by tensing this muscle in my ear. Strange, right! Quick Note: I would like to point out that humming makes a far louder noise than anything else (used this to my advantage to block out chewing sounds, very sure I have misophonia).

Anyways, I was wondering if this is actually anything strange, or if I am just exaggerating the situation. Looking forward to all replies!

Thanks again!

 

[Rafaa]

Hi all,
I am fully aware that this may not have something to do with tinnitus - but I have grown very curious about what this could be.

1) Myself:
My name is Liam, 15. At will for many years, I have been able to tense/flex a muscle inside my ear (which is what I assume it is) which makes every sound I make amplify. A lot.

2) Backstory:
I think it must have started when my granddad taught me to wiggle my ears, which I know is a fairly common ability. However it was through trying to do this that i think i found out my "ability".

3) Explanation:
While I tense this muscle, everything from breathing, chewing, humming is made much louder than normal. This includes my heartbeat, which I am usually able to hear at will by tensing this muscle in my ear. Strange, right! Quick Note: I would like to point out that humming makes a far louder noise than anything else (used this to my advantage to block out chewing sounds, very sure I have misophonia).

Anyways, I was wondering if this is actually anything strange, or if I am just exaggerating the situation. Looking forward to all replies!

Thanks again!

You are opening your eustachian tube so every sound you are making in your mouth and sinuses is louder and the eustachian tube is normally closed which blocks those sounds. You need to stop doing it and you do not want to mess around with this area of your body. If you don't have anything like ETD or anything else consider yourself lucky and get off this site! Your artery is by your ear and runs up your tube so you are hearing that louder.

When you open the tube can you hear your footsteps louder too?