Why is the sound of my jigsaw louder when I yawn?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the phenomenon of sound perception, particularly how yawning and the opening of Eustachian tubes can affect the perceived loudness of a jigsaw's noise. Participants explore the implications of this experience, touching on aspects of hearing and sound transmission through different pathways.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes experiencing a significant increase in the perceived loudness of a jigsaw when yawning, suggesting that sound may be transmitted through the nasal passages.
  • Another participant expresses skepticism about the phenomenon, stating they do not believe it.
  • Some participants share personal experiences related to the ability to open Eustachian tubes on demand, linking it to their experiences with sound perception.
  • A participant references historical hearing aids, drawing a humorous parallel to the current discussion about sound transmission through the nose.
  • One participant mentions a music instructor's explanation regarding how internal sound feedback can affect singing accuracy, suggesting a connection to the current topic.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is no consensus on the phenomenon described. While some participants share similar experiences and find the discussion intriguing, others express disbelief and skepticism regarding the claims made.

Contextual Notes

Participants discuss personal anecdotes and speculative connections without resolving the underlying mechanisms of sound perception or the validity of the initial claim.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those exploring auditory perception, the physiology of hearing, or the effects of yawning on sound transmission.

DaveC426913
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Today I was doing some serious detail work on my fence with my jigsaw. I had earplugs because the jigsaw is quite noisy. They're pretty good earplugs, muting the sound dramatically to a distant buzz.

But I chanced to yawn, clearing my ears, (which opens up one's Eustacian tubes) and suddenly the sound was dramatically louder! Closing my mouth made virtually no difference as long as my nose was still open, but plugging my nose muted the sound. The noise of the jigsaw was reaching my ears through my nose!

Tee hee!
 
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This is by far the most peculiar and interesting post I've read all day.
 
I guess you could then say that you, "have a nose for music"? :smile:
 
I know the effect. Funny in a way. To some extent I can open my Eustachian tubes on demand and occasionally I am playing in "now I hear you/now I don't" :smile:
 
Blow it out your ear. I don't believe it.
 
jimmysnyder said:
Blow it out your ear. I don't believe it.
Neither did I, but the results are pretty irrefutable.
 
Borek said:
To some extent I can open my Eustachian tubes on demand
Me too. Never been able to empathize with people who have trouble clearing their ears at altitude or under pressure. A helpful feature when I dive.
 
They had, in the old days, ear horns to aid in hearing, but when I read this, I had a stray thought of someone with one of those old phonograph/ear 'horns' in the nose.
 
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DaveC426913 said:
Today I was doing some serious detail work on my fence with my jigsaw. I had earplugs because the jigsaw is quite noisy. They're pretty good earplugs, muting the sound dramatically to a distant buzz.

But I chanced to yawn, clearing my ears, (which opens up one's Eustacian tubes) and suddenly the sound was dramatically louder! Closing my mouth made virtually no difference as long as my nose was still open, but plugging my nose muted the sound. The noise of the jigsaw was reaching my ears through my nose!

Tee hee!

In order to protect your hearing, next time you should wear nose plugs and keep your mouth closed.

Have you ever seen the people that can squirt milk from their tear duct?
 
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  • #10
Nose lol
 
  • #11
I can blow air through my tear duct...
 
  • #12
This was once explained to me by a music instructor, as the reason many of us sing slightly off-key. I was told that we hear our own voices, not so much externally as others do, but more internally as it is fed back through the nasal passage, etc, - - - and this is often slightly muted.

KM
 
  • #13
Big nostrils Dave? :-p My ex had nostrils so big I often found myself wondering what kind of small animals could crawl into his nose.