Background and Aim: Risk factors including asphyxia , meningitis , form of delivery, etc. may cause hearing loss in neonates results in speech and language deprivation , emotional and educational problems. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hearing loss and its relationship with risk factors among neonates hospitalized in neonate intensive care unit (NICU).
Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional study on 234 NICU hospitalized neonates in Ghaem and Imam-Reza hospitals of Mashhad. Epidemiologic and pathologic information were obtained. Otoacoustic emissions were done in all of neonates. Patients referred to the second otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) and patients failed in the second test controlled by auditory brainstem response (ABR).
Results: Hearing abnormality was found in 11 neonates (4.7%) including 2 girls and 9 boys.   (1 neonate with mild, 2 with mild to moderate, 2 with moderate to severe, 1 with sever to profound hearing loss and 4 with auditory neuropathy). Hearing abnormality has a significant greater incidence in group with apgar £5 and in patients with icterus (in need with transfusion).
Conclusion: Incidence of hearing loss in NICU hospitalized neonates are greater in comparison with general population. It has a greater incidence in group with icterus (in need with transfusion) and apgar £5,so,a comprehensive hearing screening program must be applied for early identification and intervention.

Background and Aim: Hyperbilirubinemia during the neonatal period is known to be an important risk factor for neonatal auditory impairment, and may reveal as a permanent brain damage, if no proper therapeutic intervention is considered. In the present study some electroacoustic and electrophysiologic tests were used to evaluate function of auditory system in a group of children with severe neonatal Jaundice.
Materials and Methods: Forty five children with mean age of 16.1 14.81 months and 17 mg/dl and higher bilirubin level were studied, and the transient evoked otoacoustic emission, acoustic reflex, auditory brainstem response and auditory steady-state response tests were performed for them.
Results: The mean score of bilirubin was 29.37± 8.95 mg/dl. It was lower than 20 mg/dl in 22.2%, between 20-30 mg/dl in 24.4% and more than 30 mg/dl in 48.0% of children. No therapeutic intervention in 26.7%, phototherapy in 44.4%, and blood exchange in 28.9% of children were reported. 48.9% hypoxia and 26.6% preterm birth history was shown too. TEOAEs was recordable in 71.1% of cases. The normal result in acoustic reflex, ABR and ASSR tests was shown just in 11.1% of cases. The clinical symptoms of auditory neuropathy were revealed in 57.7% of children.
Conclusion: Conducting auditory tests sensitive to hyperbilirubinemia place of injury is necessary to inform from functional effect and severity of disorder. Because the auditory neuropathy/ dys-synchrony is common in neonates with hyperbilirubinemic, the OAEs and ABR are the minimum essential tests to identify this disorder.