\cite{16672700}In the present study, 3 out of 77 newborns (3.90%) were categorized as the suspect and required further neurodevelopmental assessment. All of these had abnormal BERA. These children are being managed in the high-risk clinic of the department.
Arun Babu et al[20] in their study concluded that peak serum bilirubin >25 mg/dl, need for exchange transfusion, Rh incompatibility and onset of jaundice within 2 days of birth are independent predictors of abnormal neurodevelopmental at 6 months. As per the study by Maimburg et al[21] the excess risk of infantile autism was 67%. Hokannen et al[22] and Jangard et al[23] also found an association of hyperbilirubinemia with cognitive abnormalities and attention deficit disorder. However, studies by Newman et al [24], Chen et al[16] and Croen et al[25] either showed reversibility after treatment or no significant association with neurodevelopmental. Vandborg et al[26] also found no developmental delay at 1 to 5 years of age in children with hyperbilirubinemia.
The present study had certain limitations as repeat BERA could not be done in abnormal BERA cases to assess the reversibility and longer follow-up can give us the better predictive outcome. Confirmatory tests like DASII would have resulted in the better assessment of neurodevelopmental outcome.