OBJECTIVE: To explore the characteristics of auditory brainstem response (ABR) 
in neonatal hyperbilirubinemia induced by different causes.
METHODS: A total of 88 neonates (176 ears) with hyperbilirubinemia were divided 
into several groups according to the causes and followed up after 42 d, and 15 
normal neonatus (30 ears) were measured ABR and analyzed the results.
RESULTS: The thresholds of ABR in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were the 
highest in all the groups and had the longest incidence rate. The wave III, V 
latencies and III-V, I-V interwave intervals of the ABR were significantly 
difference and prolonged during test in comparison to the latencies in the 
control group (P < 0.05). The neonatal infections group had the longest wave and 
interwave intervals, followed by ABO incompatibility hemolytic diseases and the 
unknown cause groups, while the breastfeeding jaundice were the shortest in the 
groups of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. The thresholds of ABR in the 
hyperbilirubinemia caused by several etiologies were significant abnormality 
when compared with the single etiology. However, they were similar in the wave 
latencies and interwave intervals of ABR. During the follow up, the ABR wave 
latencies and interwave intervals except for interwave latency I-III were 
significantly shorter.
CONCLUSIONS: The toxicity of hyperbilirubinemia to the auditory nervous system 
are related to the species and number of etiologies. The neonate 
hyperbilirubinemia caused by glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, infections, ABO 
incompatibility hemolytic diseases and many etiologies are much more dangerous 
to the auditory system than the breastfeeding jaundice. The damages of 
hyperbilirubinemia to the auditory nervous system are reversible probably.