However, there is
little research to specifically document cause and
effect between NICU noise levels and the consequences
of any of these concerns. Noise has been
shown to interfere with sleep, cause fatigue, increase
heart rate and intracranial pressure, decrease
oxygenation, and lead to vasoconstriction, agitation,
crying, and irritability (Blackburn & VandenBerg,
1993; Long, Lucey, & Philip, 1980; Zahr &
de Traversay, 1995; Thomas, 1989)