Daily sound level exposure for preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit

Abstract

The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) provides lifesaving care to premature neonates. During this vulnerable time of life, infants are exposed to a variety of sounds uncharacteristic of the womb. Within the NICU, sound pressure levels have the potential to vary across days. The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended an hourly noise exposure limit for NICUs of less than 45 dBA. The aim of this study is to assess daily sound pressure level exposures for preterm infants in the NICU. Sound pressure levels were measured using 24-hour audio recording devices (LENA). The device was placed inside the crib or incubator with the infant or moved to the area of care if the infant was removed from the crib or incubator. We collected 672 24-hour recordings from 36 very preterm infants (≤32 weeks gestational age). Preliminary analysis indicates the average daily exposures ranged from 53.4 to 68.6 dB SPL across subjects and days. Ongoing analyses are examining potential environmental and medical factors contributing to high levels of noise exposure for these infants. [Work supported by NIH Grant R21-DC017820.]