So maybe somebody has an answer.

Because I don't even know how to google this!

When I was little, I wanted to learn how to wiggle my ears. I tried really, really hard and never got anywhere. My ears don't wiggle. But I *did* learn how to make a buzzy noise in my ears, accompanied by a slight tension inside them. I'm physically doing *something*, I just have no idea *what*. It feels (and this sounds bizarre) almost as though I can vibrate my ear drum at will. But that's ridiculous, right? I haven't really thought much about this since I was ten or so, but I just checked and, yup, I can still do it.

One question, two answers.

One person suggested I am contracting my stapedius muscle, another my tensor tympani muscle. The two are located in the ear, and perform similar functions - one dampens the sound of our own voices, the other the sound of our own chewing.

Either one of those sounds plausible to me, and like I said, I had no idea where to start with this! Also, I found out something else new! Apparently, tensed muscles make noise (which is what I'm hearing) and you can test this by putting your hand very close to your ear and making a fist. Go ahead - try it! I'm telling the nieces tomorrow.