Auditory brainstem response in preterm infants with bilirubin encephalopathy

Area of Science:

• Neonatology
• Neurophysiology
• Audiology

Background:

• Bilirubin encephalopathy (BE) poses a risk to auditory function in preterm infants.
• Auditory brainstem response (ABR) is a key diagnostic tool for assessing auditory pathway integrity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate auditory brainstem response (ABR) patterns in preterm infants with bilirubin encephalopathy (BE).
• To explore the correlation between ABR findings and clinical variables in this population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of ABR waveforms from 56 preterm infants with BE.
• Categorization of ABR findings: no response, abnormal interwave separation, or normal.
• Collection of clinical data including gestational age, peak total bilirubin, and bilirubin/albumin ratio.

Main Results:

• Abnormal ABR findings decreased with increasing postmenstrual age.
• Poorer verbal communication correlated with more severe ABR abnormalities.
• ABR improvements were observed in 7/29 infants with serial data, particularly those with lower gestational age and peak bilirubin levels.
• Automated ABR hearing screening showed agreement with manual ABR in 16/20 infants.

Conclusions:

• ABR abnormalities in preterm infants with BE may resolve over time, especially in those with lower gestational age and peak total bilirubin.
• Automated ABR screening may not detect all auditory abnormalities in infants with BE.