Delayed development of sensorineural hearing loss after neonatal hyperbilirubinemia: a case report with brain...

Sensorineural hearing loss has long been known to be a clinical consequence of kernicterus. Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) that occur in hyperbilirubinemic infants, can be reversed in the neonatal period by exchange transfusion. The case was reported in an infant with neonatal hyperbilirubinemia from hemolysis due to glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency and napthalene exposure. BAEPs showed that the baby had normal hearing at 30 decibels at 13 days of age, after exchange transfusions, but had developed profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss by 7 months of age. The brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings at 7 months are also presented.