Motor Responses and Weight Gaining in Neonates through Use of Two Methods of Earmuff and Receiving Silence in NICU

Abstract

Background and Aims. With technological advances in NICUs the survival rate of preterm infants has been increased. Because NICU environment is a potent source of stress for infants, its modification is an essential measure to decrease infants' morbidity. The purposes of this study were to compare the effects of wearing earmuff and provision silence for infants on their motor responses and gaining weight. Methods. In a randomized clinical trial 96 preterm infants were enrolled. Their motor responses were evaluated for two consecutive days in the morning and afternoon shifts, in the groups of earmuff and silence, and at similar time points in the control group. Also their weight was measured at days 1 and 10. Results. In the two intervention groups, means of motor responses in infants were significantly less than in the control group, and weight gain of infants was more than the control group. However weight gain was more pronounced in the earmuff group. Conclusion. Both interventions led to decreasing number of motor responses and improvement of weight gain pattern, but these effects were more pronounced in earmuff group; thus because implementation of silence in NICUs has many barriers, it is suggested to use earmuff for preterm infants in these units. This trial obtained IRCT registration number IRCT2012092010812N2.

Incubator-based Sound Attenuation: Active Noise Control In A Simulated Clinical Environment

“…Reducing noise levels for the preterm infant may have important health benefits. Studies of ear covers and ear plugs have shown that noise reduction can improve medical outcomes for preterm infants [13,[37][38][39][40]. There is a concern that the adhesives required to keep ear covers on the skin of the infant are responsible for breakdown of the fragile skin of the patient [41] and that they decrease all auditory input including the directed communication needed for…”

“…Earplugs may represent a choking hazard [13]. Improvements in weight gain due to a noise-attenuated environment have been demonstrated in randomized prospective studies of low birth weight hospitalized infants [13,39]. Adequate growth is a prerequisite of a successful discharge from the NICU.…”

Sleep and salivary cortisol in preterm neonates: a clinical, randomized, controlled, crossover study

“…Studies that used EPs to evaluate behavioral aspects, such as sleep, motor response, pain and physiological parameters like body temperature, oxygen saturation, blood pressure, and heart and respiratory rates in PTNs, performed the intervention for periods of two hours or more (13)(14)(15)(24)(25) .…”

Developmental Care: assistance of nurses from Neonatal Intensive Care Units

“…These Newborns (NB), due to prematurity, are usually referred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) (2) . Endowed with high technology and a massive supply of care, the NICU has a dual character since it favors clinical stability and survival (2) of premature newborns, while at the same time subjecting them to damages (3)(4) . One of the factors that makes them vulnerable is their insufficient capacity for selfregulation, due to the high sensorial loads experienced in this context (3) , mainly due to the effects of interventions performed without adequate measures of pain management (5) , luminosity and noise, allied to care protocols that disregard sleep and rest issues, generating stress and discomfort to the premature.…”

“…One of the factors that makes them vulnerable is their insufficient capacity for selfregulation, due to the high sensorial loads experienced in this context (3) , mainly due to the effects of interventions performed without adequate measures of pain management (5) , luminosity and noise, allied to care protocols that disregard sleep and rest issues, generating stress and discomfort to the premature. Such context may imply an increased risk of abnormal brain maturation (4) and constitutes a morbidity factor (2) .…”