In many cases, assisted respiratory support is needed to ensure the survival of premature infants. The present study is focused on evaluating the noise exposure experienced by premature newborns under CPAP ^a respiratory support by means of a neonatal helmet to compare the discomfort measured in one-third octave bands, in terms of the curve of 40 phons, and analyzing the influence that HME ^b filter placed on the helmets have during the delivery of oxygen-air, on the levels of sound pressure. Likewise, the influence of the levels of sound pressure is quantified at the ear level, in linear and thirds of octaves, depending on the air-oxygen flow of the neonatal helmet and of the filters placed in the helmets. The methodology used to reach conclusions in this study includes the application of the variance analysis statistical technique on a total of 4968 samples. This article highlights how the HME filters do not decrease levels of sound but, in certain situations, increase them. On the other hand, the levels of sound produced by the CPAP systems with neonatal helmets are tested to produce sound levels above those recommended by different organizations for NICUs c.

Noise and Health, A Bimonthly Inter-disciplinary International Journal

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, the noise levels found in two hospitals, with different architectural configurations and sizes but similar construction materials, have been analysed. Data were recorded at 1 s intervals over a period of more than 24 h. 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.

Environmental legislation in Ecuador is advancing with the legitimate aspiration of providing citizens with new standards of quality and environmental health. In the context of environmental noise, these legislative advances are based on the experience accumulated in other countries, which is an advantage that must be managed with caution by incorporating local factors into noise management procedures. This study advances two lines of work. The first is to survey the population about their attitude towards noise from a major road to try to detect local factors in the annoyance and sleep disturbances. The second uses this information to compare noise indicators for the detection and ranking of hot-spots from major roads. The interviewees exhibited a high level of annoyance and sleep disturbance due to noise compared with the results of other studies. Results show that there are small differences in the definition of hot-spots when using WHO’s dose–response curves for L_den ≥ 68 dB for and for L_night ≥ 58 dB, in comparison with the curves generated in this study (CS). Regarding the application of both dose–response curves (WHO vs. CS) to the estimation of the population at risk of the harmful effect of nighttime traffic noise (HSD), small oscillations are also observed even when L_night ≥ 58 dB and L_noche ≥ 60 dB are used.

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).