Brain stem electric response audiometry in neonates with hyperbilirubinemia

Auditory evoked responses using BERA were studied in 30 newborn babies with plasma bilirubin ≥15 mgm/dl and repeated after treatment of neonatal jaundice with bilirubin levels of ≤10 mgm/dl. A few jaundiced babies (16.5%) showed absent BERA response at the initial/subsequent examination. After treatment, 3/30 babies showed absent wave form responses and 2 of these were clinically kernicteric. Jaundiced babies had prolonged wave peak latencies and inter peak latencies. Treated babies showed a tendency towards recovery in their BERA responses which were however not complete. Total plasma bilirubin value at the time of BERA examination and mean maximal bilirubin values had no correlation with the incidence and degree of BERA abnormalities.