Letter to Editor

Hearing Risk from Noise Levels in a Hospital Neonatal Unit

J L Mayes*

Audiologist, Delta, Canada

Submission: October 23, 2019; Published: October 31, 2019

*Corresponding author: J L Mayes, Audiologist, Delta, BC, Canada

How to cite this article: J L Mayes. Hearing Risk from Noise Levels in a Hospital Neonatal Unit . Glob J Oto, 2019; 21(1): 556054. DOI: 10.19080/GJO.2019.20.556054

Letter to Editor

Dear Editor,

I have read the case report entitled “Measurement of Noise Levels in a Hospital Neonatal Unit in Costa Rica” by Juan, CO, Paula, SC, and Carolina, MN published in the Global Journal of Otolaryngology (2019; 19(4): 556018). I want to congratulate the authors for this important work and contribute regarding the conclusion.

It was indicated noise levels exceeding 80 decibels do not have potential intensity to cause noise-induced hearing loss. The World Health Organization globally recommended daily average exposure limit to prevent noise-induced hearing impairment is 70 decibels [1].

Although it was not the focus of this case report, sound pressure levels inside incubators may also exceed American Paediatric Association recommended noise level limits [2,3].

Conflict of Interest

J L Mayes receives royalties for hearing health related books.

References

1. Fink D J (2017) What is a safe noise level for the public? Am J Public Health 107(1): 44-45.
2. WHO (2018) Environmental noise guidelines for the European region? WHO Regional Of Gice for Europe.
3. Fernandez Zacarias F, Beira Jimenez J L, Bustillo Velazquez Gaztelu P J, Hernandez Molina R, Lubian Lopez S (2018) Noise level in neonatal incubators: A comparative study of three models. International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology. 107: 150-154.