Auditory Processing in Growth-Restricted Fetuses and Newborns and Later Language Development

Kisilevsky, Barbara S.; Chambers, Beverly; Parker, Kevin C. H.; Davies, Gregory

doi:10.1177/2167702613509371

Cited by 9 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…For example, iron-deficient infants born to diabetic mothers [13] demonstrated shorter event-related potentials (ERP) in response to acoustic stimulation of their mother’s voice. Similarly, growth-restricted fetuses and newborns showed significantly weaker HR response to their mother’s voice compared to healthy controls who were appropriately grown for gestational age [14]. Thus, the integrity of the intra-utero environment seems to be important for securing optimal auditory development.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maternal sounds elicit lower heart rate in preterm newborns in the first month of life

Rand

Lahav

2014

Early Human Development

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Background The preferential response to mother’s voice in the fetus and term newborn is well documented. However, the response of preterm neonates is not well understood and more difficult to interpret due to the intensive clinical care and range of medical complications. Aim This study examined the physiological response to maternal sounds and its sustainability in the first month of life in infants born very pretermaturely. Methods Heart rate changes were monitored in 20 hospitalized preterm infants born between 25 and 32 weeks of gestation during 30-minute exposure vs. non-exposure periods of recorded maternal sounds played inside the Neonatal incubator. A total of 13,680 min of HR data was sampled throughout the first month of life during gavage feeds Heart rate with and without exposure to maternal sounds. Results During exposure periods, infants had significantly lower heart rate compared to matched periods of care Auditory without exposure on the same day (p < .0001). This effect was observed in all infants, across the first month of life, irrespective of day of life, gestational age at birth, birth weight, age at testing, Apgar score, caffeine therapy, and requirement for respiratory support. No adverse effects were observed. Conclusion Preterm newborns responded to maternal sounds with decreased heart rate throughout the first month of life. It is possible that maternal sounds improve autonomic stability and provide a more relaxing environment for this population of newborns. Further studies are needed to determine the therapeutic implications of maternal sound exposure for optimizing care practices and developmental outcomes.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maternal sounds elicit lower heart rate in preterm newborns in the first month of life

Rand

Lahav

2014

Early Human Development

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“…However, since several cognitive capabilities such as discrimination and habituation are already established in the last trimester of gestation, it would be worthwhile to apply these stimulation paradigms to determine whether they are more specific for alterations of early fetal brain development ( Draganova et al, 2005 ; Matuz et al, 2012 ; Muenssinger et al, 2013 ; Hartkopf et al, 2016 ). Interestingly, intrauterine auditory stimulation with the maternal voice in growth-restricted fetuses has been proposed as a potential tool to compensate brain alterations that might be responsible for later language impairment ( Kisilevsky et al, 2014 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In earlier trials, changes in body movements and heart rate were the two main indicators for stimulus processing for investigating the influence of IUGR on functional brain development in utero. Following acoustic or vibroacoustic stimulation, heart rate responses in IUGR fetuses were delayed and their body movement patterns lower than in controls ( Gagnon et al, 1988 , 1989 ; Kisilevsky et al, 2014 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Impact of Intrauterine Growth Restriction on Cognitive and Motor Development at 2 Years of Age

et al. 2018

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Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), which is already known to be a risk factor for pathological intrauterine development, perinatal mortality, and morbidity, is now also assumed to cause both physical and cognitive alterations in later child development. In the current study, effects of IUGR on infantile brain function were investigated during the fetal period and in a follow-up developmental assessment during early childhood. During the fetal period, visual and auditory event-related responses (VER and AER) were recorded using fetal magnetoencephalography (fMEG). VER latencies were analyzed in 73 fetuses (14 IUGR fetuses) while AER latencies were analyzed in 66 fetuses (11 IUGR fetuses). Bayley Scales of Infant Development, Second Edition (BSID-II) were used to assess the developmental status of the infants at the age of 24 months. The Mental Development Index (MDI) was available from 66 children (8 IUGR fetuses) and the Psychomotor Development Index (PDI) from 63 children (7 IUGR fetuses). Latencies to visual stimulation were more delayed in IUGR than in small for gestational age (SGA) or appropriate for gestational age (AGA) fetuses, albeit not to any significant extent (p = 0.282). The MDI in former IUGR infants was significantly lower (p = 0.044) than in former SGA and AGA infants. However, IUGR had no impact on PDI (p = 0.213). These findings support the hypothesis that IUGR may constitute a risk factor for neurodevelopmental delay. Further investigation of the possible underlying mechanisms, as well as continued long-term developmental research, is therefore necessary.

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“…intra-uterine growth restriction of a fetus) can negatively influence language development. [ 27 ] Additionally, infants in the womb respond to the native language of their mother differently than to a foreign language. [ 28 ] These findings demonstrate a sophistication in the fetuses ability to discriminate sounds, and highlight the importance of exploring the womb soundscapes influence on the developing brain.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A description of externally recorded womb sounds in human subjects during gestation

et al. 2018

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ObjectiveReducing environmental noise benefits premature infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICU), but excessive reduction may lead to sensory deprivation, compromising development. Instead of minimal noise levels, environments that mimic intrauterine soundscapes may facilitate infant development by providing a sound environment reflecting fetal life. This soundscape may support autonomic and emotional development in preterm infants. We aimed to assess the efficacy and feasibility of external non-invasive recordings in pregnant women, endeavoring to capture intra-abdominal or womb sounds during pregnancy with electronic stethoscopes and build a womb sound library to assess sound trends with gestational development. We also compared these sounds to popular commercial womb sounds marketed to new parents.Study designIntra-abdominal sounds from 50 mothers in their second and third trimester (13 to 40 weeks) of pregnancy were recorded for 6 minutes in a quiet clinic room with 4 electronic stethoscopes, placed in the right upper and lower quadrants, and left upper and lower quadrants of the abdomen. These recording were partitioned into 2-minute intervals in three different positions: standing, sitting and lying supine. Maternal and gestational age, Body Mass Index (BMI) and time since last meal were collected during recordings. Recordings were analyzed using long-term average spectral and waveform analysis, and compared to sounds from non-pregnant abdomens and commercially-marketed womb sounds selected for their availability, popularity, and claims they mimic the intrauterine environment.ResultsMaternal sounds shared certain common characteristics, but varied with gestational age. With fetal development, the maternal abdomen filtered high (500–5,000 Hz) and mid-frequency (100–500 Hz) energy bands, but no change appeared in contributions from low-frequency signals (10–100 Hz) with gestational age. Variation appeared between mothers, suggesting a resonant chamber role for intra-abdominal space. Compared to commercially-marketed sounds, womb signals were dominated by bowel sounds, were of lower frequency, and showed more variation in intensity.ConclusionsHigh-fidelity intra-abdominal or womb sounds during pregnancy can be recorded non-invasively. Recordings vary with gestational age, and show a predominance of low frequency noise and bowel sounds which are distinct from popular commercial products. Such recordings may be utilized to determine whether sounds influence preterm infant development in the NICU.

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Auditory Processing in Growth-Restricted Fetuses and Newborns and Later Language Development

Cited by 9 publications

References 91 publications

Maternal sounds elicit lower heart rate in preterm newborns in the first month of life

Maternal sounds elicit lower heart rate in preterm newborns in the first month of life

Impact of Intrauterine Growth Restriction on Cognitive and Motor Development at 2 Years of Age

A description of externally recorded womb sounds in human subjects during gestation

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