Structural stiffening in the human middle ear due to static pressure: Finite-element analysis of combined static and dynamic middle-ear behavior

•Viscoelasticity is important to simulate both static and dynamic middle-ear behavior.•The deformed geometry causes different vibration losses under over- and underpressure.•Pressure-induced prestress has a substantial impact on middle-ear vibrations.•The viscoelastic joint properties decouple static motion but allow vibration transfer.