Question
My friend’s baby is just four months old, but unfortunately, the baby developed jaundice shortly after birth. The family is extremely worried and fears that it might affect the child’s development. Does neonatal jaundice affect hearing?
Answer
Jaundice does not affect hearing screenings. Hearing screenings may be affected by debris in the baby’s ears. If the hearing screening does not pass, you can wait until the baby is a month old to go to the hospital for a recheck. Generally, there should be no issues, so there is no need to worry excessively. If a newborn has jaundice, it will not affect the baby’s hearing screening. If the baby has jaundice, you do not need to take medication if the number of episodes exceeds 12. Just ensure the child drinks plenty of water and gets sun exposure.