EVALUATION OF NOISE IN THE NEONATAL INTENSIVE-CARE UNIT

This study evaluated the noise level inside the incubators in a neonat al intensive care unit and identified its sources in order to attempt to reduce it. Although noise is not a proven risk factor as far as the sensory integrity of newborns is concerned, it is certainly an import ant cause of stress to them and a source of serious and dangerous chan ges in their behavioral and physiologic states. Noise recorded inside the incubators had two components. The first was background noise from the incubator motors, which varied from 74.2 to 79.9 dB, and was simi lar to environmental noise. The second source was impulsive events bey ond 80 dB. These events were the result of voluntary and involuntary c ontact with the incubators' Plexiglas surface or to the abrupt opening and closing of their access ports. Considering its decibel levels and frequency, this latter component is undoubtedly an important source o f stress to newborns. Moreover, these data reveal the need to train he alth care personnel on how to reduce such noise by taking more care in the handling of infants.