The dictionary defines Noise as “a sound, loud or unpleasant or that causes disturbance.”

Noise is often perceived more of an annoyance than as a health issue but research over the last decade indicates noise in a hospital setting adversely affects patient health and the healing process. This is especially of concern in Intensive care and particularly serious in Neo Natal care.

A key to minimising noise is to understand how loud noise is. The ideal way to do this is to simply make noise visible. Research is ongoing in the adverse affects of noise on health and healing. Exposure to noise has been shown to result elevated blood pressure and heart rate.

Have you ever been in a situation where you exposed to unwanted noise particularly why you were trying to rest? Odds are you were stressed by it. Hospital noise from equipment, visitors, staff and even just a door closing can disturb patient rest. Try and think of a disease or serious injury where rest wasn’t important to the healing process.

General patient comfort is important but the impact of disturbing noise is amplified in critical patient care. Perhaps the noisiest units in the hospital are ICU and NICU because of all the extra equipment and activity. Patients are exposed to disturbances day and night.

Studies have shown the adverse effects of noise are both physiological and psychological. The effects of poor sleep have been associated with mental issues in patents.

A 2018 study reported in the Journal of the Intensive Care Society used a SoundEar 3 noise alert and reporting unit to see if a visual alert of noise in an ICU could reduce noise disturbance levels. This study demonstrated that introduction of a SoundEar visual noise warning device within an adult critical care unit can offer a sustained and significant reduction in both ambient and peak sound levels.

The device acted as an isolated intervention to significantly reduce sound levels, a change that was sustained over a four-month trial. It was deemed plausible that the reduction in ambient sound levels was due to direct visual feedback regarding noise levels passively modified human behaviours.

Noise levels from monitoring equipment cannot be directly affected but can be taken into account when mitigating noise exposure levels to increase patient comfort.

What is a SoundEar?

SoundEar’s are wall mounted units about the size of an A4 ream of paper. They are designed to flash red when the sound levels in the area are above a level set by the operator. This visual alert creates awareness of disturbing noise. The SoundEar 3 series come complete with the ability to log and report noise levels so corrective actions to minimise disturbance can be measured. With 20 years of development experience in the noise monitoring and noise visualisation SoundEars offer the worlds best solution to patient comfort while in the critical recovery stage.

Find out more at www.soundsafety.com.au or contact info@soundsafety.com.au or call 02 80658976.