title: Establishing a noise measurement protocol for neonatal intensive care units.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare three noise exposure measurement methods and determine the effect of location within the nursery, time of day, day of week, shift, and activities such as nursing shift change and physicians' rounds on noise measurements.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a noise distribution survey, central site measurements, and quadrant area measurements in our nursery. The measurements made were sound pressure level and hourly LEQ, LMAX, and L10.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The noise distribution survey method was least useful because steady-state noise sources were the exception. Differences between central site and quadrant area measurements were minimal. There was no significant effect of time of day, shift change, or physician rounds on the noise measurements.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In an open nursery with excessive noise levels central site measurements over a relatively short time accurately reflect the noise exposure. A protocol for measuring noise exposure in the neonatal intensive care unit is appended.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858-4354, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kohn
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vos
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cooper-Peel
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D008452:Maximum Allowable Concentration; D013677:Medical Laboratory Science / Q000295:instrumentation; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors