Studies have found that the air expelled during a sneeze travels at an amazing 100 miles per hour, and spews out
up to 5,000 droplets, which may be propelled
up to 12 feet in a single sneeze.... By clamping your mouth closed an pinching your nose shut, you force the "sneeze" into the eustachian tube (which connects the back of the throat to the middle ear) and then to your eardrum.