Download PDF
Am J Perinatol 2023; 40(03): 255-259
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1731043
Clinical Opinion

Reading Aloud with Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Unit-Based Program to Enhance Language Enrichment and Support Early Foundational Relationships

Carmina Erdei 
1   Department of Pediatric Newborn Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
2   Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
,
Perri Klass
3   Department of Pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York
4   Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute, New York University, New York, New York
,
Terrie E. Inder
1   Department of Pediatric Newborn Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
2   Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
› Author Affiliations Funding None.
› Further Information
Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Objective Early meaningful auditory experiences in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) enhance language outcomes and promote cognitive and social–emotional development.

Methods This is a descriptive report sharing our level III NICU experience of building a reading-aloud enrichment program with the goals of enhancing infant neurodevelopment and strengthening early parent–infant relationships.

Results We propose a roadmap for program development, outline challenges and possible ways to mitigate them, and highlight opportunities for further research in this area.

Key Points

  • Early auditory experiences enhance language, cognitive, and social–emotional development.

  • High-risk infants experience an atypical neurosensory environment while receiving care in the NICU.

  • Reading aloud in the NICU enhances language enrichment and supports early foundational relationships.

  • We describe our center's experience with building a reading-aloud enrichment program in the NICU.

Keywords

reading aloud - NICU - auditory experiences - social–emotional development


Publication History

Received: 14 January 2021

Accepted: 30 April 2021

Article published online:
07 June 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA

 

  • References

  • 1 Woodward LJ, Moor S, Hood KM. et al. Very preterm children show impairments across multiple neurodevelopmental domains by age 4 years. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2009; 94 (05) F339-F344
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 2 Tierney AL, Nelson III CA. Brain development and the role of experience in the early years. Zero Three 2009; 30 (02) 9-13
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 3 Als H, Duffy FH, McAnulty GB. et al. Early experience alters brain function and structure. Pediatrics 2004; 113 (04) 846-857
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 4 Caskey M, Stephens B, Tucker R, Vohr B. Adult talk in the NICU with preterm infants and developmental outcomes. Pediatrics 2014; 133 (03) e578-e584
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 5 Pineda R, Durant P, Mathur A, Inder T, Wallendorf M, Schlaggar BL. Auditory exposure in the neonatal intensive care unit: room type and other predictors. J Pediatr 2017; 183: 56-66.e3
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 6 High PC, Klass P. Council on Early Childhood. Literacy promotion: an essential component of primary care pediatric practice. Pediatrics 2014; 134 (02) 404-409
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 7 Vohr B, McGowan E, McKinley L, Tucker R, Keszler L, Alksninis B. Differential effects of the single-family room neonatal intensive care unit on 18-to 24-month Bayley scores of preterm infants. J Pediatr 2017; 185: 42-48.e1
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 8 Inder TE. Turns out not where but who you're with that really matters. Pediatr Res 2020; 88 (04) 533-534
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 9 Graven SN, Browne JV. Auditory development in the fetus and infant. Newborn Infant Nurs Rev 2008; 8: 187-193
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 10 Starr A, Amlie RN, Martin WH, Sanders S. Development of auditory function in newborn infants revealed by auditory brainstem potentials. Pediatrics 1977; 60 (06) 831-839
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 11 Mahmoudzadeh M, Wallois F, Kongolo G, Goudjil S, Dehaene-Lambertz G. Functional maps at the onset of auditory inputs in very early preterm human neonates. Cereb Cortex 2017; 27 (04) 2500-2512
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 12 Treyvaud K, Lee KJ, Doyle LW, Anderson PJ. Very preterm birth influences parental mental health and family outcomes seven years after birth. J Pediatr 2014; 164 (03) 515-521
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 13 Wachman EM, Lahav A. The effects of noise on preterm infants in the NICU. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2011; 96 (04) F305-F309
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 14 Pineda R, Raney M, Smith J. Supporting and enhancing NICU sensory experiences (SENSE): defining developmentally-appropriate sensory exposures for high-risk infants. Early Hum Dev 2019; 133: 29-35
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 15 Pineda R, Wallendorf M, Smith J. A pilot study demonstrating the impact of the Supporting and Enhancing NICU Sensory Experiences (SENSE) program on the mother and infant. Early Hum Dev 2020; 144: 105000
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 16 Erdei C, Inder TE, Dodrill P, Woodward LJ. The Growth and Development Unit. A proposed approach for enhancing infant neurodevelopment and family-centered care in the neonatal intensive care unit. J Perinatol 2019; 39 (12) 1684-1687
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 17 Lariviere J, Rennick JE. Parent picture-book reading to infants in the neonatal intensive care unit as an intervention supporting parent-infant interaction and later book reading. J Dev Behav Pediatr 2011; 32 (02) 146-152
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 18 Zuckerman B, Needlman R. 30 years of Reach Out and Read: need for a developmental perspective. Pediatrics 2020; 145 (06) e20191958
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 19 Nugent JK. The competent newborn and the neonatal behavioral assessment scale: T. Berry Brazelton's legacy. J Child Adolesc Psychiatr Nurs 2013; 26 (03) 173-179
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 20 Als H, McAnulty GB. The Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP) with kangaroo mother care (KMC): comprehensive care for preterm infants. Curr Womens Health Rev 2011; 7 (03) 288-301
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 21 Levesque BM, Tran A, Levesque E. et al. Implementation of a pilot program of Reach Out and Read® in the neonatal intensive care unit: a quality improvement initiative. J Perinatol 2018; 38 (06) 759-766
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar