Age Related High Frequency Hearing loss

Sound pressure normally enters at the oval window and is released at the round window. Between the two windows is the high frequency end of the basilar membrane. Hair cells that sense high frequencies are at the base and hair cells that sense low frequencies are at the apex of the cochlea. Because all sounds, both high and low must pass through the high frequency area of the cochlea the high frequency areas get worn out as we age. The typical culprits are noise generated by electronics, gunpowder and combustion engines.