Detectability of cochlear, acoustic nerve and brainstem potentials in a group of 'normal' preterm newborns recorded with insert earphone

Mean noise amounts in level II vs level III neonatal intensive care units

PURPOSE

To compare mean noise amounts in Level II NICUs with those in Level III NICUs after controlling statistically for the number of infants per unit.

STUDY DESIGN

A between-group design was used in measuring noise amounts.

SAMPLE

Noise amounts were sampled using a central site procedure during two time periods of approximately 25 minutes each (total time approximately 50 minutes) in five Level II NICUs and seven Level III NICUs in Colorado.

MAIN OUTCOME VARIABLE

Average noise amounts (in dB) from two time periods of approximately 25 minutes each (total time approximately 50 minutes).

RESULTS

Mean noise amounts were significantly higher in Level III NICUs (mean = 54.89 dB) than in Level II NICUs (mean = 49.07 dB). This result remained statistically significant even after correcting statistically for total number of babies present in each NICU during noise measurements.