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Early Vocal Contact and Preterm Infant Brain Development pp 91–111Cite as

The Sound Environments and Auditory Perceptions of the Fetus and Preterm Newborn

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Abstract

This critical review of the literature of the sound environment and auditory perception of the fetus and preterm newborn considers classic and contemporary studies.

This chapter aims to examine animal studies as a starting point and stimulus for knowledge of fetal and preterm infant auditory perception and behavior development. It also appraises listening conditions in a newborn intensive care unit (NICU) as these affect perception of the mother’s voice. Practices intended to augment fetal and preterm listening environments are considered. An understanding of sound measurement is intended to improve the validity of research and effectiveness of clinical practices regarding exposure to mother’s voice.

The chapter concludes that the fetus perceives its environment as quiet but complex and that the mother’s voice is a prominent signal but heartbeat sounds are not. Strong vibroacoustic stimulation of no benefit and possible harm includes some workplaces and sports, transport vehicles, and speakers attached to the belly or inserted in the vagina.

Although ambient sound equivalent levels may be low and hard, reverberant surfaces in old and new NICUs produce startling, distracting, and disturbing individual sounds for infants and adults. The amount of auditory experience “good enough” for perception and language development is unknown. Perception of frequency alone is a minor component of language competence. A holistic view of the infant suggests that “sound deprivation” may be a misnomer if some live speech and singing are available. Skin-to-skin holding with speech provides an effective basis for language development in the NICU environment.

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Acknowledgements

The author thanks Jack B. Evans, P. E., for guidance regarding the acoustic environment and sound level measurement.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Independent Researcher, Moorestown, NJ, USA

    M. Kathleen Philbin RN, PhD

Authors
  1. M. Kathleen Philbin RN, PhD
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Correspondence to M. Kathleen Philbin RN, PhD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Independent Researcher, Aosta, Italy

    Manuela Filippa

  2. Médecine et Réanimation du Nouveau-né Hôpital de Hautepierre, CHU, Strasbourg, France

    Pierre Kuhn

  3. Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

    Björn Westrup

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Philbin, M.K. (2017). The Sound Environments and Auditory Perceptions of the Fetus and Preterm Newborn. In: Filippa, M., Kuhn, P., Westrup, B. (eds) Early Vocal Contact and Preterm Infant Brain Development . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-65077-7_6

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