title: Newborn physiological responses to noise in the neonatal unit.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The incorporation of technologies in the care of infants has contributed to increased survival; however, this has turned neonatal unit into a noisy environment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the physiological and functional effects resulting from the exposure to noise on low-weight newborns in incubators in a neonatal unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, observational, quantitative, exploratory, descriptive study. The adopted statistical method included tables of frequency, descriptive statistics, and Student's t-test, with a 0.05 level of significance. As data collection tools, the environmental noise and the noise inside of the incubator were evaluated, and the Assessment of Preterm Infant Behavior scale was used to assess premature newborn behavior and projected specifically to document the neurobehavioral functioning of preterm infants. The data collection occurred from September of 2012 to April of 2013; 61 low-weight newborns admitted in the neonatal unit and in incubators were observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences in the variables heart rate and oxygen saturation were noted when newborns were exposed to noise.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low-weight neonates in incubators present physiological alterations when facing discomfort caused by environmental noise in neonatal units.
authors.affiliation: Communication Disorders, Universidade Tuiuti do Paraná (UTP), Curitiba, PR, Brazil; Hospital de Clínicas do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, PR, Brazil. Electronic address: schefercardoso@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Sandra Maria Schefer
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.affiliation: Hearing and Language Center, Universidade Tuiuti do Paraná (UTP), Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lorena de Cássia
authors.initials: Lde C
authors.lastname: Kozlowski
authors.affiliation: Communication Disorders, Universidade Tuiuti do Paraná (UTP), Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adriana Bender Moreira de
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Lacerda
authors.affiliation: Communication Disorders, Universidade Tuiuti do Paraná (UTP), Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jair Mendes
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.affiliation: Department of Phonoaudiology, Universidade Tuiuti do Paraná (UTP), Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ribas
mesh_terms: D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000379:methods; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: Audição; Efeitos do ruído; Hearing; Neonatologia; Neonatology; Noise; Noise effects; Premature birth; Recém-nascido de baixo peso; Ruído