What is the likely site of damage that leads to sensorineural deafness?

Sensorineural deafness is primarily caused by damage to the hair cells in the cochlea of the inner ear or to the auditory nerve pathways. This type of damage can result from factors such as exposure to loud noise, aging, genetic predispositions, or infections. Unlike conductive hearing loss, sensorineural deafness affects the ability to process sound signals, leading to difficulties in hearing even when sounds are amplified.