Characterizing the acoustic environment in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Molina, Ricardo Hernández; Jiménez, Juan Luis Beira; Rodríguez-Montaño, Víctor M.; Zacarías, Francisco Fernández; Bienvenido-Huertas, David; López, Simón Lubián; Cueto-Ancela, José Luis

doi:10.1016/j.apacoust.2020.107301

Cited by 11 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…They also imply that the healthcare staff carries out activities after hearing the alarms of the monitoring equipment. According to several studies [16,45], the alarms' noise has a stronger impact on NICU perceived noise levels due to their highfrequency components. Since A-weighting is related to how humans perceive sounds, and alarm noises sound quite frequently, they may correspond primarily to the percentile LA50, or even to LA90.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The noise: a silent threat to the recovery of patients in Neonatal Intensive Care Units

Rodríguez-Montaño,

Romero,

Hernández-Molina

et al. 2024

Preprint

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The architectural configuration of the space plays a crucial role in the acoustics of Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). The design of the environment, the materials used in construction, and the organisation of noise sources within the room significantly influence the noise levels present in these critical areas. For this research, noise levels found in two hospitals, with different architectural configurations and sizes but similar construction materials, have been analyzed. Data were recorded at 1-second intervals over a period of more than 24 hours. The data collected in these hospitals confirm the magnitude of the noise problem in NICUs, highlighting the urgent need to address it effectively to ensure an appropriate and safe environment for the recovery of neonates. Good architectural planning can help mitigate noise, while poor configuration can exacerbate acoustic problems, negatively affecting both patients and healthcare staff. It is crucial to involve architects, acoustic engineers, and healthcare staff in the design and renovation of NICUs to create spaces that not only meet medical needs but also consider the auditory well-being of neonates.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The noise produced in this type of neonatal ward is mainly composed of alarms from medical equipment, staff conversations and displacements, and medical equipment [16,17]. Apart from this type of sounds, the spectral content in NICUs is dominated by low frequencies [18,19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The noise: a silent threat to the recovery of patients in Neonatal Intensive Care Units

Rodríguez-Montaño,

Romero,

Hernández-Molina

et al. 2024

Preprint

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“…The mean T of the incubator at 250 Hz is 1.08 s. The fundamental frequency of newborns cry is in the range of 200–500 Hz ( 45 ); the noise generated by medical staff shifts (>50 dB) is between 15 and 4 kHz ( 13 ); and the one generated by continuous positive airway pressure systems is between 25 and 6.3 kHz ( 46 ). Therefore, there are activities in a NICU that generate sounds within the frequency range in which resonance effects cause high T levels.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The spectral content of NICUs shows a predominance of low frequencies ( 3 , 12 , 13 ), except for some mid-high frequency events caused by the equipment alarms and human voices ( 2 ). Some studies reveal that newborns can perceive sound stimuli from 113 Hz onwards ( 14 ), ( 15 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Importance of Reverberation for the Design of Neonatal Incubators

et al. 2021

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Low frequency noises are predominant in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Some studies affirm that neonates can perceive noises from 113 Hz, and can therefore be affected by sound sources with high spectral content at low frequencies (e.g., incubator engine, air fan). Other studies suggest that reverberation amplifies noise within incubators. In this paper, the reverberation time (T, T30) within an incubator with standard dimensions was measured in one-third octave bands. To get reliable results, the T was measured in 15 positions at the neonate's ear height, in a room with low T values (to reduce the influence of the room in the results), using an impulsive sound method. Results show a heterogeneous T distribution at the neonate's ear height, with maximum average T differences between positions of 1.07 s. The highest average T of all microphone positions is 2.27 s at 125 Hz, an extremely high mean value for such a small space. As the frequency of electrical devices in America is 60 Hz, some harmonics lay within the one-third octave band of 125 Hz, and therefore may create a very reverberant and inappropriate acoustic environment within the audible spectrum of neonates. As the acoustic environment of the incubator and the room are coupled, it is expected that the results are higher in the NICUs than in the room where the measurements were conducted, as NICUs are more reverberant. Therefore, it is recommended that the T will be limited in the international standards, and that incubator designers take it into account.

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“…This would explain the variations recorded by different authors. In this sense, some researchers measured mean and maximum values within the incubator cabin of 57.0 dBA and 88.8 dBA, respectively [1,24], while others measured values of 66.8 dBA and 84.1 dBA [25]. However, in general, most of the studies revealed mean noises between 55 and 67 dBA [8,26] and impulse noise above 140 dB (banging incubator to stimulate apneic premature infants) [10].…”

Section: Noise At Nicusmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Importance of Noise Attenuation Levels in Neonatal Incubators

2022

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Background: It is known that high noise levels can be harmful to preterm infants, causing physiological and psychological disorders. It is also known that premature babies spend a lot of time in an incubator. In this sense, many studies show that incubator noise levels can range from 45 to 70 dB. However, these differences in noise levels depend, fundamentally, on the wide range of methodology that can be used. This study aims to know the levels of noise from a fan in the incubator itself and how much it can isolate the noises coming from the outside. Methods: For this purpose, the noise levels of three incubators were measured within a sound-dampened booth for free-field audiometry. For the emission of acoustic energy, a pink noise generator was used; likewise, two microphones were placed, one inside the incubator cabin and the other outside, to determine the acoustic insulation levels of the tested incubators. Results: The incubators produced equivalent continuous sound pressure levels between 53.5 and 58 dB. Acoustic insulation analysis showed that levels varied from one incubator to another, between 5.2 and 10.4 dB. Conclusions: It is necessary to improve the acoustic insulation inside the incubator cabin and to reduce the noise levels of the motor fan. On the other hand, although the incubators are meeting the noise criteria set out in the IEC60601-2-19: 2009 standard of 60 dBA, under normal use conditions, they are still far from the limit recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (45 dBA).

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Characterizing the acoustic environment in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Cited by 11 publications

References 18 publications

The noise: a silent threat to the recovery of patients in Neonatal Intensive Care Units

The noise: a silent threat to the recovery of patients in Neonatal Intensive Care Units

The Importance of Reverberation for the Design of Neonatal Incubators

The Importance of Noise Attenuation Levels in Neonatal Incubators

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