Effects of Ambient NICU Noise Levels on Auditory Development and Early Hearing Loss Detection and Intervention

A neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay of greater than five days is a risk factor for developing hearing loss (JCIH, 2019). Literature has shown that NICU noise levels often exceed the recommended noise level of 45 dBA, putting medically fragile newborns at risk for developing hearing loss. NICU environments expose newborns to harmful sounds that can be detrimental to the development of the auditory system. Three separate studies analyzing the average sound level in three separate NICUs each found that the average sound level was higher than the recommended level 100% of the time. The United States utilizes the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) program in order to increase identification, diagnosis, and treatment of infant hearing loss.