Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Can you "squint" your ears?

Never met anyone who knew what I was talking about, until a few days ago.

To describe "ear squinting" as I call it, basically I can constrict the muscle around my ear canal and reduce my hearing by about 30-40%. It makes sort of a "cloudy hum" sound inside my ears. Anyway, I'm just wondering if anyone here has heard of this or can do it.

RO

yes... i can do it too ... I never imagined it was something that some people can do, and some people cant ...

never have found a use for it, so if you do, please let me know.

Are you married?

yes ... good thinking ... except that I've already mastered the art of "selective hearing" ... at least that's what my wife tells me ... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

huh?

he asked if I could "squint" my ears to affect my hearing, to which I replied yes, but I don't have a good use for the skill ... he asked if I was married, and I interpretted that as him suggesting that I could use the ear squinting skill to drown out the sounds of my wife ... to which I replied that while I think that idea is a good one, it's one that I do not need since I've already mastered the art of "selective hearing", meaning I hear what I want to, and let the rest fall on deaf ears (in a manner of speaking) ...

comprende`?

I'm sorry, I'm squinting my ears and can't hear you. Could you re-post in capital letters.
RS

I don't so much as squint to keep out noise but open my jaw when I think I may have heard something in the woods - it seems to help or maybe I imagine it - either way I don't think I hurt anything.

Yes, I can do it. I just thought everyone could. miles

Not only can I squint my ears, I can also wiggle my eyes.

yep, pro ear squinter here.

I once went for the single sqint (ear wink) and I tipped over like I was hit with a wrecking ball.... very, very dangerous, please don't try it at home.... I'm a professional.

let us know when you figure out what it's good for. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I just turn off my hearing aids. Good technique in the car, you can concentrate on the traffic and go uhuh once in a while.

Yeah,I can do it to a degree. Altho not well enuff to avoid the use of hearing protectors. Alot of people claim to smell rain coming, can't do that but I can smell snow. Go ahead call me crazy, everyone else does when I mention it.

Smell rain...yes

Squint my ears...no

Similar to the ear squint is the rolling of the tongue, some folks can and other can't. First I've ever heard of ear squinting though.

I knew squinting couldn't be that uncommon, just never met more than one person who knew what I was talking about.

Uses???......I use it when I shoot in hunting situations or when I am only taking a shot or two out in the field and forgot to bring hearing protection. It doesn't replace muffs/plugs by any means, but it keeps my ears from ringing after a shot.

Thanks for those who replied, I can now say I know of a few people that know what it is.

RO

River Otter-

"Ear sqint" is a good term, and maybe a new one to describe what happens to prevent ear damage from loud noises. I was hoping Rocky Raab might jump on this since he does ear stuff professionally, but maybe he's out hunting. My friendly local instructor of human anatomy is unavailable too. It's been 40+ years since I dissected the cats in general zoology, so there are probably errors in what follows; apply grains of salt as needed.

Behind the ear drum in the middle ear there are a couple of really small muscles that connect to the little ear bones. When they contract they restrict the movement of the ear bones. This control of motion can help to protect the inner ear from possible damage. One of the muscles acts to protect our ears from the noise we make when talking and chewing. The other muscle is controlled by a startle reaction to loud noises, and also subconsciously contracts when we anticipate a loud noice. It can be controlled consciously as you have discovered.

Look up tensor tympani muscle and stapedius muscle.

--Bob