Originally posted by Wolffe
On a similar note, does anyone know what that ringing/high-pitched whining in your ear is?
Mild tinnitus (don't worry, you ain't going deaf - everybody experiences this from time to time)
particually noticable when there are next to no external sounds - your ears will become far more sensitive (similar to the way the eye works when there is next to no light in the room)

what you are actually hearing, is still subject to a lot of scientific debate
but the most common theory, is it's earwax, and other fluids vibrating gently in your ear