Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Incubators Reduce Language and Noise Levels More Than the Womb

Overview

Journal J Perinatol

Specialty Gynecology & Obstetrics

Date 2020 Feb 6

PMID 32020037

Citations 7

Authors

Brian B Monson

Jenna Rock

Molly Cull

Vitaliy Soloveychik

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the sound reducing characteristics of modern incubators in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and to better characterize auditory and language exposures for NICU infants.

Study Design: Sound frequency spectral analysis was conducted on language and noise audio acquired simultaneously inside and outside incubators located in the NICU.

Results: Sound transmission into the incubators was nonuniform. Very low-frequency sounds (<100 Hz) were unattenuated or even slightly amplified inside the incubators. Maximal reduction was observed for low-to-mid frequencies (300-600 Hz) and high frequencies (>2000 Hz), which convey important language information.

Conclusions: Sound reductions observed across NICU incubator walls are more severe than those reported for sound transmission into the intrauterine environment, particularly for midrange frequencies that are important for language. Although incubator walls may serve as a protection against noxious noise levels, these findings reveal a potentially detrimental effect on language exposure for infants inside a NICU incubator.

Citing Articles

Strategies to support language development in neonatal intensive care unit: a narrative review.

Heo J, Kim E Clin Exp Pediatr. 2024; 67(12):651-663.

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Early parental vocal contact in neonatal units: rationale and clinical guidelines for implementation.

Filippa M, Kuhn P Front Neurol. 2024; 15:1441576.

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An Animal Model of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Exposure to Light and Sound in the Preterm Infant.

Gay J, Dangcil E, Nacipucha J, Botrous J, Suresh N, Tucker A Integr Comp Biol. 2023; 63(3):585-596.

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Oxytocin Levels Increase and Anxiety Decreases in Mothers Who Sing and Talk to Their Premature Infants during a Painful Procedure.

Filippa M, Monaci M, Spagnuolo C, Di Benedetto M, Serravalle P, Grandjean D Children (Basel). 2023; 10(2).

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Language Exposure for Preterm Infants is Reduced Relative to Fetuses.

Monson B, Ambrose S, Gaede C, Rollo D J Pediatr. 2023; 262:113344.

PMID: 36736889 PMC: 10390654. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2022.12.042.

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