Soundscape analysis of a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) facility.

Abstract

A soundscape study was made of an existing NICU facility in a major urban hospital to document the nature and magnitude of sounds experienced by newborn infants in this environment. Focus group discussions were held with hospital administrators, NICU staff, design team members, and families of patients to determine the types of sounds that are heard in normal opera‐tion of the NICU. Long‐term average sound level measurements of general sounds in the NICU were made for several work shifts. Short‐term acoustical measurements of specific acoustic events were also made to obtain octave band sound level data for each of the activities, medical equipment sounds, and building infrastructure sounds that comprise the soundscape of the unit. Audio and video recordings of the specific acoustical events that comprise the soundscape of the NICU were also made. The acoustical measurements and soundscape analysis are used to evaluate proposed acoustical design criteria for NICU facilities compared to nonacoustic health ...