[flamtap]

>It's as if my ear is trying to compensate for the lack of sound.

As I understand it, this is exactly what tinnitus is. Your ear becomes insensitive to a certain frequency, so your brain "equalizes" it, if you will, and over compensates to the point that you're hearing something that's not there.

[falcolas]

The brain can also confuse input from nearby muscles for missing sounds in some cases. My own tinnitus can get a lot worse if my upper back and shoulder muscles are tense.

[ymolodtsov]

Yes! Mine is connected with the jaw joint.

[ymolodtsov]

There are multiple reasons for it, including nerve damage and effects from surrounding tissues and joints.