OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of early intervention (enzyme inducer) on bilirubin contents and brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) in high risk infants. METHODS: Eighty six high risk infants were randomly assigned to the treated group (Group Ⅲ) and untreated group (Group Ⅱ). Thirty seven normal neonates were used as the control group (Group Ⅰ). Group Ⅲ neonates were given phenobarbital and nikethamide at 24 h of birth. The total bilirubin contents were assayed in Group Ⅱ and Group Ⅲ. The BAEP was tested in the 3 groups. RESULTS:  ① The mean total bilirubin content of Group Ⅱ [( 249.0 ± 75.2 ) μmol/L] was much higher than that of Group Ⅲ [( 181.0 ± 54.1 ) μmol/L] at 96 h of birth (t=4.829,P<0.01), and at 144 h the differences were even more significant [( 308.0 ± 93.1 ) μmol/L vs ( 146.0 ± 52.7 ) μmol/L](t=9.985,P< 0.01). ② The incidence rate of abnormal BAEP was 69.1% in Group Ⅱ and 18.2% in Group Ⅲ. There was significant difference between the two groups (χ2= 22.68,P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Early intervention using liver enzyme inducer may reduce bilirubin contents and the rate of abnormal BAEP in high risk infants.