Is Mild Hyperbilirubinemia Associated with Language Delay in Preterm Infants?

Hyperbilirubinemia was not associated with language delay at age 3 years in this retrospective case-control study.

Hyperbilirubinemia has been associated with auditory dysfunction in premature infants (documented by auditory brainstem-evoked responses), but an association with language delay is uncertain. In a retrospective case-control study, investigators in Canada examined whether language delay at age 3 years was associated with serum bilirubin levels during the first 2 weeks of life in 125 infants weighing ≤1500 g who were admitted to a single neonatal intensive care unit during a 10-month period. Infants with genetic disorders, postnatal hearing loss, or recurrent ear infections were excluded.

Fifteen infants died, and 102 infants (93% of discharged infants) had follow-up data at age 3 years. Twenty-four infants (25%) had language delay (defined as…

Reviewing Author

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics