Sound levels in a neonatal intensive care unit significantly exceeded recommendations, especially inside incubators

Abstract

The sound levels significantly exceeded the AAP recommendations, particularly inside incubators. A multipronged strategy is required to improve the sound environment and protect the neonates' sensory development.

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

“…Average noise levels in the over a rolling one hour period ranged from a low of 52 dBA to a high of 72 dBA in the NICU and from a low of 55 dBA to a high of 64 dBA within an unoccupied incubator [18]. Peak SPL measures in NICUs have been reported over 100 dBA [28,29] and within incubator as high as 88 dBA [20,21].…”

“…A mechanism to reduce the unnecessary noise exposure of NICU infants could have widespread application. Device alarms are consistently found to be a source of excessive noise in NICUs, [20,21,26]. Patient monitor alarms are an especially frequent contributor to the noise in NICUs, with an average of 177 alarms/patient/day [27].…”

“…Noise levels in the NICU can be quite loud [17][18][19][20][21] and shift changes have been observed to be the loudest periods [18]. Average noise levels in the over a rolling one hour period ranged from a low of 52 dBA to a high of 72 dBA in the NICU and from a low of 55 dBA to a high of 64 dBA within an unoccupied incubator [18].…”

“…Noise levels in NICUs have been shown to be consistently louder than guidelines provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) [17][18][19][20][21]. These guidelines stipulate that the noise levels that the hospitalized infants are exposed to should not exceed 45 dBA, averaged over one hour and should not exceed a maximal level of 65 dBA averaged over one second [22].…”

Preterm infant showed better object handling skills in a neonatal intensive care unit during silence than with a recorded female voice

“…While exogenous factors are regulated by the womb in utero , newborn preterm infants are hospitalised in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) where they are exposed to many inappropriate stimuli, particularly sounds. Indeed, the acoustic environment of the NICU contains many high‐frequency sounds and the sound levels significantly exceed the limit of less than <45 dBA recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics . These intense sounds have been shown to act as stressful events on physiological self‐regulatory skills and could contribute to sensory and developmental disorders .…”