Gender: Male

Age:  6 weeks

This child was born full term, without complication. He passed an automated ABR one day after birth. He was later admitted to the NICU for hyperbilirubinemia.  His MRI and EEG, obtained at 2 weeks of age, were abnormal and his ABR was abnormal, while OAEs were present.  The test environment was noisy; ergo, the results were not conclusive.  Retest results are described in this case study.

• What types of hearing loss can occur as a result of kernicterus?
• What other physiologic problems are associated with kernicterus?

Case donated by Anna Walsingham Nichols, NC Baptist Hospital