What condition is caused by malfunction of or damage to the cochlea, auditory nerve, or brain?

The condition that arises from a malfunction of or damage to the cochlea, auditory nerve, or brain is sensorineural deafness. This type of hearing loss occurs when there is an issue with the inner ear structures (like the cochlea) or the auditory pathways that carry sound signals to the brain.

In contrast, conductive deafness refers to issues with sound transmission through the outer ear canal or middle ear, affecting the ability to hear sounds being conducted to the inner ear. Central deafness, while it involves processing centers in the brain, primarily relates to the brain's interpretation of signals rather than the physical structure of the auditory system itself. Mixed deafness combines elements of both conductive and sensorineural loss, but specifically, sensorineural deafness is associated with the damage to the cochlea, auditory nerve, or areas of the brain responsible for sound processing.

This distinction emphasizes that the critical issue lies within the neural and sensory pathways rather than with the parts of the ear responsible for conducting sound waves.