In the American Journal of Diseases of Children, Hyman and Keaster and their associates recently reported on central nervous system (CNS) abnormalities observed during a minimum of four years' follow-up study of 405 children who as neonates had hemolytic disease or hyperbilirubinemia.1,2 For all children, birth weight, neonatal general and neurologic status, and bilirubin concentrations were documented; and, when the children were at least 4 years of age, all cases were evaluated by a complete history, modified Gesell test, and audiologic studies. Some were also evaluated by otologic, neurologic, psychologic, and electroencephalographic examinations.
Fifteen percent (59 children) were found to have one or more CNS abnormalities including sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), athetosis, strabismus, seizures, minimal cerebral dysfunction syndrome (MCD), difficulties with auditory rote memory or with visual perception, and other problems such as impaired mentality, nystagmus, and psychotic behavior. The findings related to SNHL were of special interest as