I remember reading that many years ago radical surgery was performed for a few particularly severe tinnitus cases in which the auditory nerve was completely sev

I remember reading that many years ago radical surgery was performed for a few particularly severe tinnitus cases in which the auditory nerve was completely severed, yet even that didn't fix the tinnitus. So yes, I think there is something in your interpretation. (I suffered tinnitus for a few years, the 'pulsatile' form which is definitely not psychological and is basically when the blood flow in your head is too close to your inner ear. Fortunately for me it cleared up.)