[RD]

From memory, I think I have 'heard' sounds through the base of my neck rather than through my ears.

I have read that when Beethoven was becoming deaf he would compose at the piano with a stick between his teeth which was touching the piano: the stick conducted sound better than air.

[neilep (OP)]

Thanks to Everybody for their helpful and insightful answers !

I thought they were inhearingfull answers, actually.

[neilep (OP)]

Neil this is what the DUNG BEETLE use for their dens and food
as this YouTube clip shows:  (YUK)

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=I1RHmSm36aE

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dung_beetle

I do that with my poop too !!

[blakestyger]

This was one of the One Hundred Things to do Before You Die - have your poo rolled away by a dung beetle.  []

[lyner]

Beethoven was becoming deaf he would compose at the piano

Now he's decomposing. Boom boom.

[Soul Surfer]

It is true that the ear is best designed to hear sounds transmitted in air rather than water but there is also another factor involved.  The coupling of energy between water and air is very poor and there is usually a bubble of air still in your ears when you go under water.  If you swim under water and make sure all the air bubbles get out of your outer ear and couple the water directly on to your eardrum you can hear a lot better underwater.  I used to do this in my childhood when I was training to become a fish!  However I do not reccommend that you do this too often or for too long because it tends to result in "surfer's ear" a nasty problem where you ear which does not like to be full of water decides to close the gap to stop you putting water in it.  this tends to result in poor hearing when you are in the air.