Objective: Our purpose was to evaluate the cost and benefit of noise reduction after replacement of acoustic ceiling tile in an open ward neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Study design: An observational, prospective study evaluated noise in an open ward NICU before and after suspended ceiling tiles were replaced. Noise was rated by a 10-point visual analog scale and measured with a decibel meter.
Results: The mean decibel level was 55 before and 53 after renovation (p < 0.05). The median visual analog score was 5 before and 4 after renovation (p = 0.09). The cost of ceiling tile replacement was $2400.
Conclusions: The renovation resulted in a small decrease in the decibel level in the NICU, although this measured decrease was not perceived by observers. With a formal prerenovation noise evaluation, a more efficient ceiling tile might have been selected or the project may have been aborted or modified because of the low levels of noise already present.