More articles >>

Can Infant Sleep Machines Be Hazardous to Babies’ Ears?


American Academy of Pediatrics
News (healthychildren.org)

March 3, 2014

Infant sleep machines can be used to mask environmental noises in busy households or to provide ambient noise to soothe an infant during sleep, but they can also contribute to babies’ hearing loss.

In an April 2014 Pediatrics study, “Infant Sleep Machines and Hazardous Sound Pressure Levels,” published online March 3, the maximum noise levels of 65 sounds in 14 different infant sleep machines were tested at three distances:

  • 30 centimeters (to simulate placement on a crib rail)
  • 100 centimeters (simulating placement near a crib)
  • 200 centimeters (to simulate placement across the room)

All 14 machines exceeded 50 dBA, the current recommended noise limit for infants in hospital nurseries, and all but one exceeded the recommended noise limit even from 200 centimeters away. The findings also determined that regular exposure to white noise through an infant sleep machine on a nightly basis can affect hearing, speech, and language development.

Even though the maximum output levels were measured in this study, the authors encourage parents to move infant sleep machines farther away than 200 centimeters and to lower the volume to protect infants’ hearing.

 

What is Super Doctors?
Super Doctors Magazine

Super Doctors identifies top doctors as selected by their peers and the independent research of MSP Communications. Please note: Doctors cannot pay to be included on Super Doctors® listings nor are they paid to provide input.

Super Doctors is published online and also in print as a special advertising section in leading newspapers and city and regional magazines.

Click here for more details



Browse Super Doctors
Browse Medical Specialties

More ...

Browse
Locations

More ...