We live in a noisy world. Even quiet noises, if you listen long enough, can damage your hearing.
Hearing loss from long-term noise exposure is typically found in the 3000-6000Hz region. Early symptoms of damage include the perception of tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, difficulty understanding female or children's voices, difficulty hearing in noise.
Four ideas attempt to answer why this region is particularly susceptible to noise damage:
The blood supply to that region is somehow less than to other regions.
The supporting structures to the hair cells in this region are more susceptible to damage
The orientation of the stapes footplate causes greater damage in this region.
The outer ear canal resonance causes greater impact in this region.
Hearing conservation involves educating yourself about noise exposure, the effect on your life, and steps to take to minimize or eliminate hearing loss.