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Newborn physiological responses to noise in the neonatal unit
Sandra Maria Schefer Cardoso1, Lorena de Cássia Kozlowski2, Adriana Bender Moreira de Lacerda3
1Communication Disorders, Universidade Tuiuti do Paraná (UTP), Curitiba, PR, Brazil; Hospital de Clínicas do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology
|October 21, 2015
Summary
Neonatal intensive care units are noisy, impacting low-weight infants. Exposure to noise in incubators caused significant physiological changes in heart rate and oxygen saturation for these vulnerable newborns.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Environmental health
- Infant physiology
Background:
- Technological advancements in neonatal care have increased infant survival rates.
- However, this has led to a significant increase in noise levels within neonatal units.
- Elevated noise poses a potential risk to vulnerable infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the physiological and functional consequences of noise exposure in low-weight newborns.
- To assess the impact of incubator noise on preterm infants within a neonatal unit.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, observational, quantitative study was conducted.
- Environmental and incubator noise levels were measured.
- The Assessment of Preterm Infant Behavior scale evaluated neurobehavioral functioning in 61 low-weight newborns.
Main Results:
- Significant differences were observed in heart rate and oxygen saturation levels.
- These changes correlated with noise exposure in newborns housed in incubators.
- The study identified physiological alterations due to noise discomfort.
Conclusions:
- Low-weight neonates in incubators experience physiological distress when exposed to environmental noise.
- Neonatal unit noise negatively impacts the well-being of premature infants.
- Findings highlight the need for noise reduction strategies in neonatal intensive care environments.
