Noise and its Impact on Infant Development
Noise has a negative impact on an infant's development. Excessive auditory stimulation results in undesirable physiological effects such as heart rate variations and apnea, oxygen saturation, and blood pressure. Also, there is a risk of hearing loss, poor sensory and brain development, and language and speech issues. Excessive noise in the NICU also affects an infant's sleep habits, which can have negative consequences such as early sleeplessness and other sleep-related issues (Kent, Tan, Clarke, & Bardell, 2002).
Reducing Excessive Noise in the NICU
Excessive noise can be reduced in the NICU by covering the incubators with blankets to protect the neonates from loud sounds. The blankets will absorb the sound that hits the wall and gets reflected to the occupants of the NICU who happen to be infants (Ahamed, Campbell, Horan, & Rosen, 2017). Prolonged and excessive noise also reduced by noisy apparatus from the environment surrounding the incubator (Garinis et al., 2017). The perspective of removing noisy equipment will free up the incubators and create a quiet atmosphere that enhances the potential for the development of the brain capacity of neonates. Proper brain development is essential for the holistic growth of an individual (Chawla et al., 2017).
Implementation of Quiet Hours and Staff Education
Another solution to reduce noise at the incubators for the conducive growth of neonates is strict implementation of quiet hours. Moreover, the management can also educate the staff working in the NICU to raise awareness among their colleagues and visitors to maintain silence whenever they are in the facility and limit conversations near neonates (Graven, 2000). Watchman and Lahav (2011) have made come up with persuasive findings that the reduction of noise within the NICU enhances the physiologic steadiness of ailing infants. Comprehensive empirical research of controlled groups has bolstered the resolve to defend and support the current perspectives about minimizing the excessive noise levels in the NICU.
References
Ahamed, M. F., Campbell, D., Horan, S., & Rosen, O. (2017). Noise Reduction in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Quality Improvement Initiative. American Journal of Medical Quality, 1062860617711563.
Chawla, S., Barach, P., Dwaihy, M., Kamat, D., Shankaran, S., Panaitescu, B., ... & Natarajan, G. (2017). A targeted noise reduction observational study for reducing noise in a neonatal intensive unit. Journal of Perinatology.
Garinis, A. C., Liao, S., Cross, C. P., Galati, J., Middaugh, J. L., Mace, J. C., ... & Coopersmith, N. (2017). Effect of gentamicin and levels of ambient sound on hearing screening outcomes in the neonatal intensive care unit: A pilot study. International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, 97, 42-50.
Graven, S. N. (2000). Sound and the developing infant in the NICU: conclusions and recommendations for care. Journal of Perinatology, 20(S8), S88.
Kent, W. D., Tan, A. K., Clarke, M. C., & Bardell, T. (2002). Excessive noise levels in the neonatal ICU: potential effects on auditory system development. Journal of Otolaryngology, 31(6).
Wachman, E. M., & Lahav, A. (2011). The effects of noise on preterm infants in the NICU. Archives of Disease in Childhood-Fetal and Neonatal Edition, 96(4), F305-F309.
