How Does Noise Affect the Health of NICU Babies?

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is essential to the survival of many premature and sick infants. However, babies in the NICU may also be exposed to certain types of harm, including neurotoxic chemicals (such as phalates and phenols), restricted social interaction (which can hinder bonding and language development), and abnormal light and sound stimuli (1). Auditory aspects of the NICU environment can be particularly troublesome. Beeping monitors, ventilators, and alarms can make it difficult for babies to sleep and have negative effects on vital functions such as breathing. The layout of a NICU can influence noise level (2, 3, 4); the open-bay model, in which multiple infants are kept in one room, has more auditory disruptions than the single bay model, in which babies are housed in their own private rooms (4). In addition to minimizing negative auditory stimuli through redesigning NICU layouts (or by other means), hospitals can help their newborn patients by…

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