L'environnement sonore des nourrissons placés en incubateur dans les hôpitaux

The knowledge of the neonate's saund environment in incubators has the aim to better define the ways to protect neonates of nose effects and to improve their acoustic comfort The present study, realized in 9 hospitals, constitutes a sound database at 216 hows of recording made and outside of neonate's compartments, allowing valid statistical analysis end characterisation. The statistical index analysis of sound data shows that continuous noises are generally higher inside of incubators (50 ± 3 dBA) than outside (42 ± 8 dB A) Thar origins are mainly the incubator itself and the external medical devices sometimes used Or the contrary impulsive noises are far more frequent. and intense outside ot the incubator than inside Most of these noises come from the hospital activity for 88% of the time and are essentially produced by medical staff and nurses Furthermore. 25 incubators witnout neonate are evaluated with respect to the NF EN 60601-2-19 standard. Among these incubators, one is out of standard tor the internal level, an other is also out of standard for the internal alam sound, white all tested incubators are out of standard for alarm sound perceived outside. The protection of neonates and the improvement at their acoustic comfort can be achieved by instrumental, human and architectural proposals .