The 'size' of a sneeze- is this real (or a fetish fantasy)?

[Heathcliff]

Here's a topic I've been meaning to start for ages. First of all, I've got to recap an obs.

When I was in school, I saw an older girl from the sixth form sneeze: it sounded like "Aaaah- chooo!" Not exactly quiet, but not very loud. I remember this so well because she made the comment at the time. "Excuse me. One of my more petite sneezes!" Most people would not comment on a sneeze like that, but she was a drama student and the whole of her sneeze was a little bit theatrical.

I soon learned what she meant by that sneeze being more "petite" (i.e. small). I heard her sneeze quite a few other times, and it always sounded like a loud "AAAA-EEEEH-SHOOO!" What I would describe as a typical 'loud, womanly sneeze' (my favourite type).

So, did her first sneeze happen to be a 'small' sneeze for some reason, and the other ones were her 'big' sneezes? I love the thought that sneezes have a 'size'- some, for whatever reason just seem to emerge bigger and louder, and some smaller and less violent.

I say I love this thought- but I don't actually believe it. From a fetish point of view I think it would be cool if it was true- but in fact, if someone has to sneeze I think it is just 'a sneeze' and a person generally sneezes in the same way each time.

What I mean by that is, a person sneezes in one way if they let the sneeze out; if they stifle, they sneeze in another way. If they deliberately vocalise their sneeze more, they can make it louder. (I'm sure you know what I mean- for example I remember kids in school doing this sometimes to be a nuiscance). But it is basically the same sneeze noise every time.

So, what do you think? Does a person essentially just have one sneeze sound, or do their sneezes generally vary between 'big' and 'small' sneezes? I love discussing sneeze-related topics like this and would like to know your opinions.

P.S. Obviously, I know different people can have very different sneeze sounds. I'm sure we've all known two men, or two women of very similar age, size and personality who sneezed in completely different ways (which is one of the things that makes sneezing so interesting ). But here I'm talking about whether one person can have two genuinely different types of sneeze.

Edited September 2, 2015 by Heathcliff

[Sawyer]

Oh, good topic!! I think they can definitely have different sizes! In most people, sometimes a sneeze can just be naturally louder, power powerful, and more difficult to control than other times. I'm not really sure what factors play in to whether it will be big or small, but I've noticed it in my SO especially. Granted, he does have a wide range of how much he stifles each one (so cute imo!!), but I've been with him where he's generally unrestrained and just lets them out, and sometimes they're medium-sized and kind of airy, while other times they're very vocal and powerful and body-bending.

Kind of like how if someone usually stifles, sometimes it's silent and other times there's a little squeak or something -- I usually imagine that the latter was just too big for them to hold it in completely!

I'm not sure if this is what you meant though! I'd like to know what others have to say.

[bloom]

but in fact, if someone has to sneeze I think it is just 'a sneeze' and a person generally sneezes in the same way each time.

I completely disagree.

Often in my experience, the longer I go with a prolonged sneezing fit (usually allergy-related), the louder each sneeze tends to come, and it's definitely not something I can control - it's like my body just gets fed up or something and starts doing it louder and more powerfully. (Which is super fucking embarrassing, FYI.) I could start off stifling if I wanted to, but after a while they're just way too strong for that.

And there are definitely other, more random times where the sensation is extremely strong beforehand and I know it's going to be un-stiflable (learned this the hard way, my ears don't thank me) and much louder/more powerful sounding than my typical sneeze. I usually have pretty good control over the way my sneeze sounds when it comes out, the way you mention people can stifle or vocalize to make it louder or something, but not when all this happens.

[Mr. Black Cherry Berry Tea]

So to get pseudo-scientific with it: anyone who's spent a good amount of time singing knows that there are a HUGE variety of timbre approaches to any given note. The various mechanisms that make up this difference in timbre (placement of a bunch of muscles around the vocal folds, rounding of the lips, which bodily cavities the sound resonates in, how much air goes into the nasal passages, etc., etc.) are probably the same mechanisms that go into the difference in sneeze sounds. And with sneezing there are even more variables and even fewer of them are under conscious control: e.g., volume of air that goes across the vocal folds, air that exits from the nose rather than the mouth.

THAT SAID, I see where you're coming from in terms of thinking that one person's sneeze sounding several different ways is a bit of a fetishist's fantasy. I would say that probably to some small extent it is, but mostly there's a real difference. I say that because since there are so many variables that go into sneeze sound, when we consciously or semi-consciously think "I'm going to do a smaller sneeze," or "I'm going to let this one out," there's probably a BUNCH of different muscles that we change sort of unpredictably change to achieve that conscious aim, which could in theory result in a very different sound. And then like Junia said, when one input from our body changes---the tickle feels different, we've been going on for a while and have failed to dislodge the irritant, we take a bigger or smaller breath beforehand---that could change a bunch of the sneeze sound variables too.

So that's my $.02.

[TheCakeIsAlive]

For myself, I know it definitely varies over time but mostly varies with cause. They range from tiny almost-squeaks to harsh throat-scraping banshee noises. The latter usually doing more damage to an already sore throat. So one person can definitely have a natural range of sneezing in 'size', volume and intensity.

[NoV]

Based on my own personal experience there can definitely be variations between the sizes of sneezes in the involuntary sense. Sometimes I am aware that a sneeze comes out with considerably more power than I would normally sneeze. I wonder whether this has anything to do with the volume of air already within the lungs before you start to inhale for the sneeze?

Also I have heard people say that different stimuli can produce different intensities of sneezing. For example I have heard people say that their allergy sneezes are generally louder than their cold sneezes or vice versa.

[Chanel_no5]

I think they can vary a lot. I have like a "standard sneeze" if you know what I mean, but it can vary a lot. If the urge to sneeze comes on suddenly, it can sometimes get VERY loud, and I have no say in the matter. Also if I'm several days into a bad cold, then they can be really loud and drawn-out, far from my standard sneeze. And sometimes it comes out like a tiny "ktschh".

So... I think it depends on the person, of course, but for me they can be really different from each other.

[wonderfulllife2013]

This is a fun topic. I definitely have sneezes that are bigger than others. I can usually tell from the buildup what the sneeze will be like. Cold sneezes are the most intense for me. There's nothing worse than the all day feeling that you need to sneeze. Once those sneezes finally trigger, I feel like my whole body is trying to get rid of the itch, no control whatsoever!

[TwinklingStars053]

I'm going to have to say that it is real. My sneezes almost always come out different. Sometimes they can be quiet and airy, and sometimes they're wet and loud. It varies even more from when I have a cold or allergies. A cold usually results in wet sneezes. They can be drawn out sometimes. The tickle is usually more intense with a cold, and it's very difficult to stifle. With allergies, my sneezes are strong and powerful, but can be half-stifled if I wanted to. The tickle isn't as intense as a cold sneeze, but it won't go away until I sneeze. Obviously with allergies, sometimes that results in multiple sneezes just to get temporary relief.

I'll also mention that I can't usually tell how my sneeze will come out just based on the tickle. Since my tickle builds up, I can never know for sure until I'm right on the verge of sneezing, and it's usually too late by then.

Good topic btw

[atchoum]

This sounds like Heathcliff’s back-to-term assignment . I’m tempted to be one of those students who doesn’t really answer the question, but asks a question about the question.

It strikes me as unusual to talk about the “size” of a sneeze. Of course it’s hard to talk about what sneezes are like and we are obliged to use oblique language, but I had always thought of the variation that’s behind this question is really one of strength – so if the sneeze is being produced with a lot of strength, it will be a big one.

It made me think of the codes used in Sneezecount http://sneezecount.joyfeed.com/ - mild, moderate, moderate to strong, strong. If you compare 2007 with 2015 you can see that there is much less variation : in 2007 you have almost equal numbers of mild and strong, whereas these almost disappear in 2015, and there is only moderate and moderate to strong.

Does this mean that the “size” of a person’s sneeze tends to average out as you get older?

[Unsweetened]

I totally agree that one person can have different sneezes, both in sound and size.

For myself, it's often related to why I'm sneezing, if I'm sick or something's irritating my nose or if it's a photic sneeze, but also the amount of sneezes in a fit can vary. Like, as time goes on, the sneezes get smaller? My thinking is that the irritants are reducing because of all the sneezing. It's the reverse if I try to stifle though, the sneezes get bigger and louder and tend to sound different.

My boyfriend tends to sneeze two to three times in a row, and when he does the first is big and loud and forceful, then immediately followed by either one or two smaller sneezes. It sounds a bit like an "AHH'KKOO! ktch!" All in a really short time period, maybe 10 seconds.

[frolicking periwinkle]

I definitely think that people can have different sized sneezes... based on the irritant. But, I love a big build up sneeze. Something that ends i the "ESH" sound and the sound is big enough to feel. Once, my friend's husband sneezed so hard the chandelier sang a bit. I had to be careful not to look at anyone because I was certainly distracted. (It then made its way into my next fanfiction!)

Although I don't need a sneeze to be that big to strike my fancy, anything big enough to reset the person - even for the tiniest of vulnerable moments, is enough for me.

[SeaHeart]

Well, I know that I have a variety of sneeze sounds. Honestly, most of the time, I'm not quite sure what's going to come out. Yikes! The worst, I'd have to say, are my sneezes that only halfway come out. Sounds like I'm screaming for the heck of it. I've been betrayed many times by such sneezes in public. One time, I got away with saying it was a giant hiccup!

[sneezeboy]

I started a thread some months back.About how my mother's sneezes varied in size at different times.Keeping one thing in mind,that she never stifles so its all natural.I observed that her sneezes in the morning and earlier parts of the day would be more powerful and harsher than those in the evening and at night.The wetness and spray would never change though.

[Heathcliff]

Just wanted to say, thanks for the awesome response on this thread. I genuinely didn't believe sneezes varied in their intensity like this; I guess because I personally am not a sneezy person, and don't have allergies, I may not have the deepest experience of it. It's certainly nice to know that this idea of "some sneezes are bigger than others" exists for you guys!

I’m tempted to be one of those students who doesn’t really answer the question, but asks a question about the question. It strikes me as unusual to talk about the “size” of a sneeze. Of course it’s hard to talk about what sneezes are like and we are obliged to use oblique language, but I had always thought of the variation that’s behind this question is really one of strength – so if the sneeze is being produced with a lot of strength, it will be a big one.

That's interesting- certainly, it does not make literal sense to talk about the 'size' of a sneeze. You're right, 'strength' would be a better word.

But the size thing is what I have actually heard people say (at least in the UK, in English). People don't talk about sneezes very often, but I have heard someone refer to a 'big' sneeze quite a few times- to emphasise that is felt strong, powerful, it was loud- whatever. Weirdly I have never heard someone say 'strong sneeze' or 'powerful sneeze'. Strange, huh?

Edited September 20, 2015 by Heathcliff

[Sarah_Snow]

I definitely have big sneezes and little sneezes.