r/AutisticAdults • u/randy_bo_bandyy • 1d ago
Anyone else make a roaring sound in ear as stim?
So apparently only some people can voluntarily make a roaring/rumbling in their ear. I’m one of those people and I I just caught myself doing it as a bit of a stim then realized it was something I’ve done purposely as a stim for years (I’m late diagnosed so I’ve been finding all kinds of behaviors and things that are actually stims and since my mental health has been improving I’ve started stimming more and realizing I was suppressing a lot for most of my life…and here’s the over explaining with unnecessary details for way more context than needed side of me again…the ‘tism is strong with this one) and I wonder if anyone else also does it as a stim. Looked it up and it’s caused by tensing the tensor tympani muscle in the middle ear.
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u/eastbayted 1d ago
I can make the sound but generally can't stand the sensation.
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u/randy_bo_bandyy 1d ago
Understandable. Trying to remember back to all the times I used it and I think I used to use it to cover louder sounds like lots of people talking and stuff. Could be wrong though, I’m still in the process of unmasking little by little, remembering things I used to do and going “wait, was that the ‘tism or am I just weird?” And more often than not it seems to be the ‘tism
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u/Stoopid_Noah 1d ago
OMG YES!!!!! I've never meat another person who knew what the hecc I was talking about!!!
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u/GreyestGardener 1d ago
I am late diagnosed and entering middle age, and I used to do this constantly as a kid (and less frequently, to almost never, as I aged) as a way to try and counter my extreme hypersensitivity to sound and issues with misophonia. I would probably still have the habit, but years of neglect of dental work has left me unable to comfortably clench my jaw very much, and I have to tense mine in order to achieve the 'roar' or tinnitus style ringing needed to drown out external noises. (And I am sure the level I did it at was not healthy in one or numerous ways, in any regard)
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u/randy_bo_bandyy 1d ago
Weird, I don’t have to clench my jaw at all but I relate to the neglecting dental work/hygiene. I’m so bad at brushing my teeth, much to my granny’s dismay. Not a sensitivity thing but a habit thing. Probably doesn’t help that I like sodas partly the bubbly sensation so I drink more than I should (been getting better at drinking less soda recently, though). Sparkling water is hit or miss on taste for me though, usually miss, so that barely helps. Need to get me a soda stream or something like it so I can make my own with the right amount of carbonation and actually tastes good.
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u/GreyestGardener 1d ago
I like those flavored seltzer waters with a little splash of non-alcoholic drink mixers like grenadine or that POM juice con entrate stuff. It's really good!
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u/Salt-Routine5181 1d ago
English is not my first language, so I'm a bit unsure what you meant, but if it's muscle that helps pop blocked ears - I use I really frequently. In school I used to tense it and purposefully block ears to hear less, or kept the tension and breathed little louder, so sound of it makes almost all other sounds quieter
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u/randy_bo_bandyy 1d ago
You got what I was talking about exactly right! I didn’t know it’s used to pop blocked ears though!!! May I ask why your first language is? I’m curious since I only know one language but find languages really cool!
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u/Salt-Routine5181 1d ago
I figured it helps pop ear pressure cos tensig that muscle makes same feeling and clicking sound as swallowing. Found it more useful than other popping methods
I'm russian, glad to ease your curiosity)
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u/Whooptidooh 1d ago
I can make my internal subwoofer go off at will, but never do this as a stim. Usually only when I’m bored or reminded of being able to do that.
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u/dirtyharo 1d ago
ye sometimes, but I find the feeling not nice so don't do it much. I used to do it a lot to counter loud sounds as it kinda provides a noise over something that might trigger misophonia
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u/annonnnnn82736 1d ago
wait do you mean like a “lion roar” in a way if so I USED TO DO A LOT WHEN I WAS YOUNGER i can barely do it now that im older but i was so good at it before
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u/Apprehensive-Band705 1d ago
OMG so it's real, I didn't think, I thought it was all in my head, so my "bat signals" are real. Btw yes sometimes I stim with that.
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u/Tiny-Confidence5898 1d ago
I do it by clenching my jaw or squinting and smiling really hard. Idk how else to explain it but yes!
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u/skleedle 1d ago
I can but don't very much. Instead, sometimes i open my eustachian tubes and make rapid little changes in the pressure on my eardrums by sniffing and puffing
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u/Noodlepip_toodlepip 1d ago
I have done this my whole life. I can’t remember exactly when I first started doing it - I think it started when I was very little, when reflexively reacting to very loud or sudden sounds, it kinda protected my hearing. I have always been very reactive/sensitive to auditory stimuli. Then I discovered I could do it at will - rumble my ears - and throughout my childhood and teens I’d rumble away at will because it felt good, but also in noisy places as it was soothing and calming. I tried telling people but nobody ever knew what I was talking about. I still do it and I’m now in my fifties. It still feels good!
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u/YourDadThinksImCool_ 1d ago
Wait... I... I guess so 💀
I was always pretty good at not turning my more physically involved stims into habits.. but this one... Was just so casual and discreet to do.
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u/shinygoldshovel 1d ago
I used to do this all the time as a kid and kind of forgot about it over the years. I just managed to do it again for a second or two, but don’t think I can keep it up (in my late 30s) like I used to. Fortunately, I have more control over my environment, which is probably why I stopped.
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u/larsloveslegos Scarlett she/her 23yo ASD Lvl1 & Moderate Inatt. ADHD Confirmed 1d ago
I used to all the time lol
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u/_plays_in_traffic_ 1d ago
is this what that spasm sound is that just uncontrollably happens sometimes inside the ear? i cant make it happen but it happens infrequently nonetheless
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u/AnAlienUnderATree 1d ago
I can make clicks or a humming sound. When I was a kid I was terrified of travelling by car, so I imagined I generated a shield around the car to protect everyone inside. Now I use it when it "feels right" and try to balance it between the ears, especially when there's too much noise around.
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u/mad-gyal 22h ago
HOLY SHIT I’ve never seen another person mention this ever ohhh my god?!?! I have random periods where I do that a lot, like I’ll be in bed trying to sleep and will just make this happen. I’ve always wondered how or why I can do it but have always forgotten to do any research on it lol this is wild!!
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u/UnluckyChain1417 13h ago
Usually I get that when I’m in pain… or my eyes are hurting… or really hot. Like it’s a sensor reaction.
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u/Alone-Parking1643 11h ago
I can do this. I helps to block the tinnitus I suffer from. No idea how I do it, its something to do with little muscles near the ears.
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u/Crude_gentleman 10h ago
I had no idea this wasn't a universal human thing. i wouldn't say I do it to stim though
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u/Careless-Reward8386 9h ago
Can be a stim for me - I can do the roar at will and also the clicks, I can in fact click a tune so loudly others can hear it - drives my wife up the wall! It's very soothing when noise is too overwhelming. My normal tune I play is 'hi ho hi ho, it's off to work we go' from the 7 dwarves. Even made my doc look at me like I was crazy!
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u/BookishHobbit 1d ago
r/earrumblersassemble