As humans age, their upper limit of hearing typically decreases, making them less sensitive to high-frequency sounds. Which of the following biological changes is the primary cause of this high-frequency hearing loss?
The longer hair cells at the apex of the cochlea stop functioning first.
The shorter hair cells at the base of the cochlea stop functioning first.
The eardrum becomes much more flexible and vibrates too quickly.
The pinna increases in size, reflecting high-frequency sounds away.