Sound spectral analysis in the intensive care nursery: measuring high-frequency sound.

Uterine structures protect the fetus from high-frequency sounds (i.e., >500 Hz). Preterm infants are not protected from sound >500 Hz. It is necessary to assess sound frequencies to protect preterm infants from high-frequency sound. However, no noise measurement study has been reported using sound spectral analysis (SSA). This article reports the results of an SSA in two Level III neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). The results of the SSA indicated that significant high-frequency sound existed within the infant's immediate care environment. Results of SSA assessments may lend evidentiary support to clinical managers seeking to redesign traditional NICUs.