Reversibility of brainstem evoked response audiometry abnormalities at 3 months in term newborns with hyperbilirubinemia.

BACKGROUND High bilirubin level is toxic to developing brain and auditory system but the current debate surrounds the toxicity of bilirubin in healthy term infants. METHODS Longitudinal observational study to find BERA abnormalities in term newborns with isolated hyperbilirubinemia of 20 mg/dL and more and to follow up babies at 3 months to find out about the reversibility in BERA abnormalities noted at birth. RESULTS BERA abnormalities were present in 17.64% of babies with isolated hyperbilirubinemia at discharge. There was a reversibility of BERA abnormalities in 61.61% during follow up. CONCLUSIONS BERA abnormalities are reversible in term neonates with hyperbilirubinemia.