Pressure differences across the eardrum attenuate low-frequency sound and cause pain

Evidence

Even a relatively small pressure difference across the eardrum attenuates the sound transmitted to the inner ear, especially at the low frequencies. A large pressure difference can be very painful. A pressure difference may originate, for example, from an infection or static changes in the air pressure, for example during a flight. The Eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the pharynx, normally equalizes the air pressure between the middle ear and the outer ear. However, the tube may be narrow in some individuals, or it may be blocked due to infection, and thus the pressure may not be equalized. — Ville Pulkki, Matti Karjalainen, Communication Acoustics- An…, 2724

Categorization

• XREF: Fits the reader’s interest in acoustic applications — mechanism explaining flight-related hearing loss and ear pain.