Re: 'pressure at the ears' visiting an anechoic chamber

[Nancy Vaughan <nvaughan@xxxxxxx>]

I wonder if this sensation is related in any way to the sensation people
with binaural hearing loss experience when fitted with a monaural hearing
aid.  Not routinely, of course, but the ear with a similar hearing loss to
the aided ear feels is often reported to feel plugged when sound is
introduced into the opposite ear.  Could the pressure sensation simply be
related to the absence of sound (at least sound as we are accustomed to
experiencing it?)

>Malcolm,
>
>>>> When visitors enter -for the first time- our (rather large) anechoic
>>>> chamber, they are always complaining about the strange 'pressure
>>>> at their ears'. Similar as listening to 'much out of phase' signals in
>>>...
>>>
>>
>>I'm pretty sure that the ear-popping is due to the pressure change as the
>>door is pulled shut.  The anechoic chambers I have been in have a door
>>jamb much like a tunnel.  You pull the door shut and the pressure in the
>>room increases.  I suspect our ears have very little experience with such
>>pressure changes in normal life.
>
>        ... This is a very strange sensation.
>        ... I experienced it at CBS Labs in the early 70's.
>        ... However, the tech who ran the chamber (speaker & mic testing)
>        always left the door open as he was always going in and out to
>        make adjustments/changes.
>        ... So, I'm certain my own experience was with the door open.
>        ... I've asked Ronald some questions and suggested some
>        simple experiments to possibly perceive further effects.
>        ... I also believe this is, as you and Al Bregman have commented,
>        a learning issue but, due to the novelty, this may be an opportunity
>        to learn something fundamental about hearing.
>
>
>Rich
>
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>

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