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founded 1 year ago

Thunder in your head? (kbin.social)

submitted 1 year ago by arth@kbin.social to c/AskKbin@kbin.social

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A long while back I was hanging out with one of my sisters and she said that she hears thunder in her head when she gets startled.

Me: "Scuse me. What?"
Her: "You know. That thunder you hear when someone startles you."
Me: "Again. What?"
Her: "You don't hear thunder when someone startles you?"
Me: "Uh, no."
Her: "Oh. I thought that happened to everybody."

Is this a thing? Does this happen to anybody else out there? She did struggle with depression for much of her life. Could that have had something to do with it?

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[–] honung@kbin.social 26 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (21 children)

I believe this could be the result of the tensor tympani muscle activating, which it tends to do in fight-or-flight situations. It is located in your ear and has the purpose of lowering sounds that may otherwise make you deaf. I remember there was/is a subreddit called r/earrumblersassemble , consisting of people who claimed they could voluntarily "rumble" this muscle, and I happen to be one of them. Anyway, it does resemble a thundering noise, and it does activate when I'm startled.

[–] JunkMilesDavis@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Same here, never knew it was unusual until the internet informed me. I could just be wired wrong since it also starts kicking off involuntarily in an uncomfortable way when I'm around too much loud conversation.

[–] honung@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That happens to me too. It's called Tensor Tympani Syndrome (TTTS), which is probably a result of Hyperacusis. There are subreddits for those too. The most important thing is not to overprotect your hearing since that will only make your ear muscles even more sensitive. Feel free to message me if you're having trouble :) My symptoms used to be quite bad but nowadays I go weeks without thinking about it, so I'm practically cured.

[–] JunkMilesDavis@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Thank you, I appreciate it. It really helps to learn that it's identifiable and treatable.

[–] honung@kbin.social 1 points 1 year ago

Happy to help!

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