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Updated: Feb 17, 2026
Clinical Practice Protocol of Creative Music Therapy for Preterm Infants and Their Parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Published on: January 7, 2020
Exposure to human voices has beneficial effects on preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit
Sahar Saliba1, Rana Esseily1, Manuela Filippa2,3
1Laboratoire Ethologie, Cognition, Développement, Univiversité Paris Nanterre, Nanterre, France.
Insights
Nonmaternal voices positively impact preterm infants' clinical stability, improving heart rate, respiration, and behavior. However, study heterogeneity limits definitive conclusions, necessitating further research.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Developmental pediatrics
- Auditory neuroscience
Background:
- Preterm infants experience significant physiological and developmental challenges.
- Non-traditional interventions are explored to improve clinical outcomes in vulnerable neonates.
- The impact of auditory stimuli, specifically non-maternal voices, on preterm infants requires comprehensive review.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review existing literature on the effects of non-maternal voices on preterm infants' clinical outcomes.
- To synthesize findings regarding short-term and long-term effects of vocal stimuli.
- To identify trends and limitations in current research.
Main Methods:
- Literature search conducted up to March 2016.
- Inclusion criteria applied to select relevant studies.
- Analysis of 11 studies focusing on preterm infant outcomes.
Main Results:
- Vocal stimuli demonstrated positive effects on preterm infants' physiological stability (heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation).
- Behavioral measures and feeding skills showed improvements in response to vocal stimuli.
- Ten studies focused on short-term outcomes, while only one examined long-term effects.
Conclusions:
- Non-maternal vocal stimuli appear beneficial for preterm infant stability.
- Heterogeneity in study methodologies and outcome measures complicates definitive conclusions.
- Further rigorous research is needed to establish the efficacy and optimal application of vocal interventions.
Abstract:
We reviewed the literature up to March 2016 on the effects of nonmaternal voices on preterm infants' clinical outcomes. Of the 11 studies that met the inclusion criteria, 10 focused on short-term outcomes and one looked at long-term effects. The studies mainly showed that vocal stimuli increased preterm infants' stability in terms of heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation and behavioural measures. Improvements in feeding skills were also reported. The methods and the measures used in the studies were heterogeneous, making it difficult to draw reliable conclusions.
Conclusion:
Vocal stimuli increased preterm infants' stability, but further studies are needed.
