Inadvertent Noise in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and its Impact on Prematurely Born Infants

Barbara Królak Olejnik* and Izabela Lehman

Received: November 08, 2018;   Published: November 19, 2018

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2018.11.002063

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Abstract

Noise leads to many adverse health effects - from short-term disturbances of homeostasis, to long-term changes in the central nervous system, which are responsible for abnormal cognitive development and limitation of language skills. Medical care is primary source of noise in intensive care units. Many of noise-generating factors could have been eliminated. In order to reduce bad habits and enforce correct practices, an internal recommendation is necessary to implement. The protective intrauterine environment enables gradual maturation of the fetal hearing organ, in particular very sensitive receptor cells in the cochlea. Preterm delivery significantly disturbs the normal development of the child’s auditory perception. Stimulation with sound stimuli like those experienced during the fetal period, positively influences the proper development of the nervous system of premature babies and protects against harmful effects of hospital environment noise.

Abbreviations : NICUs: Neonatal Intensive Care Units; TOS: The Original Sound; DBA: Decibels adjusted; CPAP: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; HFNC: High Flow Nasal Cannulae