Final answer:
Deafness can be caused by damage to the auditory cortex, the part of the brain that processes sound information. While other brain areas like the frontal lobe, hippocampus, and cerebellum have their own functions, they are not primarily involved in hearing. The auditory cortex is important for central hearing loss, contrasting with conductive and sensorineural loss due to middle or inner ear damage.
Step-by-step explanation:
Deafness can result from damage to the inner ear or damage to the auditory cortex. This region of the brain is responsible for processing sound information received from the ears. Other areas, like the frontal lobe, hippocampus, and cerebellum, are associated with different functions and are not directly involved in hearing. Damage to the auditory cortex can lead to a type of hearing loss known as central hearing loss, which is different from conductive hearing loss that can result from abnormalities in the middle ear structures such as the ossicles, or from sensorineural hearing loss caused by damage to the inner ear or the auditory nerve. The correct answer to the question is A) Auditory cortex.