title: Early exposure to maternal voice: effects on preterm infants development.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Preterm infants complete their development in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit being exposed to environmental stimuli that lead to the early maturation of the sensory systems. It is known that the fetus perceives sounds and reacts to them with movements since the 26th-28th week of gestational age. Maternal voice represents a source of sensory stimulation for the fetus.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of the exposure to maternal voice, administered by bone conduction, on preterm infants autonomic and neurobehavioral development.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal, explorative, case control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  71 preterm infants with birth weight <1500g, born adequate for gestational age
  
  
  METHODS
  vital and neurobehavioral parameters at term, neurofunctional assessment at 3 and 6months of corrected age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Infants in the treatment group had lower heart rate values and a higher proportion of stable skin color at each study point as compared to the control group. The scores in the visual attention performance and in the quality of the general movements at term were better in the treatment group than in the control one. Neurofunctional assessment score at 3months of corrected age was higher in the treatment group whereas no difference between the two groups was detected at 6months of corrected age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early exposure to maternal voice exerts a beneficial effect on preterm infants autonomic and neurobehavioral development.
authors.affiliation: NICU, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Odoardo
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Picciolini
authors.affiliation: NICU, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy. Electronic address: matteo.porro@mangiagalli.it.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Porro
authors.affiliation: Audio-psycho phonology Italian Association, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meazza
authors.affiliation: NICU, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Lorella
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Giannì
authors.affiliation: NICU, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rivoli
authors.affiliation: NICU, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lucco
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barretta
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine Research Centre, University of Insubria, Varese.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonzini
authors.affiliation: NICU, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mosca
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002657:Child Development; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D014831:Voice
keywords: Infant's development; Maternal voice; Preterm infants