the relationship between severe hyperbilirubinemia and abnormal auditory brainstem response in children

abstract:background : hyperbilirubinemia is one of the most common cause of congenital sensory neuronal hearing loss. these patients are screened by auditory brainstem response (abr) test at bilirubin levels higher than 1% of gestational weight. aim: to determine whether hyperbilirubinemia less than 1% of gestational weight could induce hearing loss and abnormal auditory brainstem response (abr).methods: in this case control study the outcome of abr test in children younger than 3 years old with a history of term delivery and hyperbilirubinemia (bilirubin level less than 1% of gestational weight) were compared with the control group without hyperbilirubinemia matched for age and sex.results: mean abr amplitude (wave i, v) were significantly prolonged in neonates with jaundice compared with controls (p0.6% gestational weight was 2.25 with 95% ci (1.44-3.89 and p=0.02).conclusion: our study showed a relevant association between bilirubin levels less than 20 mg/dl and abnormal abr.