• @tempest@lemmy.ca
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    22 days ago

    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 (it/they)
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      11 day ago

      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
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        1 day ago

        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 (it/they)
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          11 day 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.