[Long-term effects of neonatal medium-degree hyperbilirubinemia on brainstem evoked potentials]

Since neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (greater than 20 mg/100 ml) represents a risk factor for acoustic defects, we examined the effects of moderate hyperbilirubinemia less than 20 mg/100 ml) on the acoustic pathway maturation through the BAEPs technique. Twenty-three children who had suffered from moderate neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (5 FT, 18 PT) were tested at the end of their 1st year. No statistically significant differences were found between their response characteristics and those of a similarly aged control group. We conclude that a low-to-moderate degree of hyperbilirubinemia at birth should not be considered as a potential risk factor affecting the auditory brainstem pathways maturation and functionality.