Preterm infants admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit are at higher risk of poor neurodevelopmental and sensory outcomes. There is interest in establishing whether elements of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit sensory environment may influence the sensory and overall development of these infants.
Method
The purpose of this scoping review was to provide a comprehensive overview of relevant research regarding the sensory elements of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and their short- and long-term influence on preterm infants. This scoping review is underpinned by the six-stage framework by Arksey and O’Malley.
Results
There are few studies that have directly examined the influence of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit environment upon the sensory and developmental outcomes of infants born preterm, in infancy. The findings of the studies included in this review suggest that the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit sensory environment may alter developmental trajectories of preterm infants. However, low-quality evidence exists in this field, with much of the literature being preliminary.
Conclusion
Further experimental studies are required that combine multiple methods of assessment to more rigorously understand the sensory characteristics of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and their relationship with developmental outcomes across early childhood.
AbdeyazdanZGhassemiSMarofiM (2014) The effects of earmuff on physiologic and motor responses in premature infants admitted in neonatal intensive care unit. Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research19(2): 107–112.
2.
AitaMGouletCOberlanderTF (2015) A randomized controlled trial of eye shields and earmuffs to reduce pain response of preterm infants. Journal of Neonatal Nursing21(3): 93–103.
3.
American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Environmental Health (1997) Noise: A hazard for the fetus and newborn. Pediatrics100(4): 724–727.
4.
American Occupational Therapy Association (2006) Specialized knowledge and skills for occupational therapy practice in the neonatal intensive care unit. American Journal of Occupational Therapy60(6): 659–668.
5.
AnzaloneMELaneSJ (2012) Sensory processing disorders. In: LaneSJBundyAC (eds) Kids Can Be Kids: A Childhood Occupations Approach, Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis Company, pp. 437–459.
6.
ArkseyHO'MalleyL (2005) Scoping studies: Toward a methodological framework. International Journal of Social Research Methodology8(1): 19–32.
7.
BadrLKAbdallahBHawariM (2010) Determinants of premature infant pain responses to heel sticks. Pediatric Nursing36(3): 129–136.
8.
CaskeyMStephensBTuckerR (2014) Adult talk in the NICU with preterm infants and developmental outcomes. Pediatrics133(3): e578–e584.
9.
ChangYSGratiotMOwenJP (2015) White matter microstructure is associated with auditory and tactile processing in children with and without sensory processing disorder. Front Neuroanat9: 169.
10.
ChornaOSolomonJESlaughterJC (2014) Abnormal sensory reactivity in preterm infants during the first year correlates with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes at 2 years of age. Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition99(6): F475–F479.
11.
ChowVYShellhaasRA (2016) Acoustic environment profile of the neonatal intensive care unit: High ambient noise and limited language exposure. Journal of Neonatal Nursing22(4): 159–162.
12.
CrozierSCGoodsonJZMackayML (2016) Sensory processing patterns in children born very preterm. American Journal of Occupational Therapy70(1): 7001220050p7001220051–7001220050p7001220057.
13.
EdwardsJBerubeMErlandsonK (2011) Developmental coordination disorder in school-aged children born very preterm and/or at very low birth weight: A systematic review. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics32(9): 678–687.
14.
FerrieroDM (2004) Neonatal brain injury. The New England Journal of Medicine351(19): 1985–1995.
15.
GrantMJBoothA (2009) A typology of reviews: An analysis of 14 review types and associated methodologies. Health Information & Libraries Journal26(2): 91–108.
16.
GravenSNBrowneJV (2008) Sensory development in the fetus, neonate, and infant: Introduction and overview. Newborn and Infant Nursing Reviews8(4): 169–172.
17.
Hellström-WestasLInghammarMIsakssonK (2001) Short-term effects of incubator covers on quiet sleep in stable premature infants. Acta Pædiatrica90(9): 1004–1008.
18.
HunterJG (2013) Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. In: Case-SmithJO'BrienJC (eds) Occupational Therapy for Children, 6th ed. Maryland Heights, MO: Mosby Elsevier, pp. 649–680.
19.
Joanna Briggs Institute (2015) The Joanna Briggs Institute reviewers' manual 2015: Methodology for JBI scoping reviews, Adelaide, Australia: Joanna Briggs Institute.
20.
JorgeECJorgeENEl DibRP (2013) Early light reduction for preventing retinopathy of prematurity in very low birth weight infants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 8, Cd000122.
21.
LahavASkoeE (2014) An acoustic gap between the NICU and womb: A potential risk for compromised neuroplasticity of the auditory system in preterm infants. Frontiers in Neuroscience8: 381.
22.
LaneSJ (in press) Sensory modulation. In: LaneSJBundyAC (eds) Sensory Integration: Theory in Practice, Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis Company.
23.
LejeuneFParraJBerne-AudeoudF (2016) Sound interferes with the early tactile manual abilities of preterm infants. Scientific Reports6. 23329. doi:10.1038/srep23329.
24.
LesterBMHawesKAbarB (2014) Single-family room care and neurobehavioral and medical outcomes in preterm infants. Pediatrics134(4): 754–760.
25.
LevacDColquhounHO'BrienKK (2010) Scoping studies: Advancing the methodology. Implementation Science5(69): 1–9.
26.
McGowanJEAlderdiceFAHolmesVA (2011) Early childhood development of late-preterm infants: A systematic review. Pediatrics127(6): 1111–1124.
27.
MoherDLiberatiATetzlaffJ (2009) Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta- analyses: The PRISMA statement. PLoS Med6(7): e1000097.
28.
MoragIOhlssonA (2011) Cycled light in the intensive care unit for preterm/low birth weight infants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev8(1): CD006982, doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006982.pub2.
29.
OwenJPMarcoEJDesaiS (2013) Abnormal white matter microstructure in children with sensory processing disorders. Neuroimage:Clinical2: 844–853.
30.
PiccioliniOPorroMMeazzaA (2014) Early exposure to maternal voice: Effects on preterm infants development. Early Human Development90(6): 287–292.
31.
PinedaRGuthRHerringA (2016) Enhancing sensory experiences for very preterm infants in the NICU: An integrative review. Journal of Perinatology37: 323–332.
32.
PinedaRGNeilJDierkerD (2014) Alterations in brain structure and neurodevelopmental outcome in preterm infants hospitalized in different neonatal intensive care unit environments. Journal of Pediatrics164(1): 52–60.
33.
ReynoldsLCPinedaRGMathurA (2014) Cerebral maturation on amplitude-integrated electroencephalography and perinatal exposures in preterm infants. Acta Paediatrica103(3): e96–e100.
34.
RomeuJCotrinaLPerapochJ (2016) Assessment of environmental noise and its effect on neonates in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Applied Acoustics111: 161–169.
35.
SantosJPearceSEStroustrupA (2015) Impact of hospital-based environmental exposures on neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm infants. Current Opinions in Pediatrics27(2): 254–260.
36.
StromsworldKSheffieldE (2004) Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Noise Language Development, New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Center for Cognitive Science Technical Report.
37.
ThelenESmithL (2007) Dynamic systems theories. In: LernerRM (ed.) Handbook of child psychology: Theoretical models of human development, Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, pp. 258–311.
38.
ValeriBOHolstiLLinharesMBM (2015) Neonatal pain and developmental outcomes in children born preterm: A systematic review. Clinical Journal of Pain31(4): 355–362.
39.
VohrBR (2010) Cognitive and functional outcomes of children born preterm. In: NosartiCMurrayRMHackM (eds) Neuodevelopmental Outcomes of Children Born Preterm, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 141–163.
40.
WoythalerMMcCormickMCSmithV (2011) Late preterm infants have worse 24-month neurodevelopmental outcomes than term infants. Pediatrics127(3): e622–e629.
