The Effect of Noise Modifying in NICU on Premature Infant's Behavioral Responses

High auditory stimulation puts preterm infants at high risk for adverse health effects. Present study was conducted with this aim to determine the effect of noise modifying in NICU on premature infants’ behavioral responses.

Research samples were 110 premature infants that divided in experiment and control groups. These infants had 28 days age، hospitalized in NICUs more than 2 days، below 37 week gestational age and below 2500 gram birth weight without mechanical ventilation. In the first section of time، each infant with inclusion criteria، inserted in control group and then in second section of time، infant with inclusion criteria placed in experiment group. In first section، educated nurse measured the LAeq، LC، LA and infants’ behavioral responses. In second section، noise modifying interventions implemented in experimental group for 6 weeks، and then LAeq، LC and LA and infants’ behavioral responses were measured with the same methods.

No statistical significant differences were observed in two groups in the mean frequency of crying، sleeping and startle. Moreover، recorded mean LC in experiment group (P=0. 021) as well as mean LA (P=0. 008) was lower than control group. In addition، no statistical significant difference was observed in LAeq between two groups.

This study showed that noise in studied NICUs was higher than standards and had reached to psychological damage. Since، change in NICUs environment in order to modifying noise، had no effect on premature infants’ behavioral responses، as well as، the observed reduction in LC and LA is clinically negligible; it seems that، more research is needed in this area.