Reciprocal Mother-Infant Voice Exposure in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

May 14, 2026 updated by: Nilgun Avci, Biruni University

Hearing Each Other: Effects of Reciprocal Maternal-Infant Voice Exposure on Maternal Attachment and Breastfeeding in the NICU: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized controlled trial evaluates the effect of reciprocal maternal-infant voice exposure on maternal attachment and breastfeeding outcomes in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Infants in the intervention group are exposed to recordings of their mothers' voices, while mothers simultaneously listen to recordings of their infants' sounds between the 6th and 12th postpartum hours. The intervention is administered every 2 hours for 30 minutes. Outcomes include maternal attachment, breastfeeding effectiveness, breastfeeding self-efficacy, infant feeding intention, perceived insufficient milk, and expressed breast milk volume. Neonatal physiological parameters and blood gas values are also assessed. The findings aim to support family-centered NICU care through non-invasive auditory interventions.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
60

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Mothers aged ≥18 years
  • Infants ≥37 weeks gestation
  • Diagnosis of transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN)
  • Infant admitted to NICU ≥6 hours
  • Ability to communicate in Turkish

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Infant clinical deterioration requiring transfer
  • Maternal psychiatric disorder
  • Hearing impairment

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Reciprocal Voice Exposure Group
Reciprocal auditory stimulation consisting of maternal voice recordings played to infants and infant sound recordings played to mothers every 2 hours for 30 minutes between the 6th and 12th postpartum hours.
Behavioral: Reciprocal Voice Exposure Group
Reciprocal auditory stimulation consisting of maternal voice recordings played to infants and infant sound recordings played to mothers every 2 hours for 30 minutes between the 6th and 12th postpartum hours.
No Intervention: Routine Care Group
Standard NICU care without auditory stimulation.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Maternal Attachment
Time Frame: 12th postpartum hour
Measured using the Maternal Attachment Inventory (26 items; scores range from 26 to 104; higher scores indicate stronger attachment).
12th postpartum hour
Breastfeeding Effectiveness
Time Frame: 12th postpartum hour
Measured using the Bristol Breastfeeding Assessment Tool (scores range from 0 to 8; higher scores indicate more effective breastfeeding).
12th postpartum hour

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy
Time Frame: 12th postpartum hour
Measured using the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (14 items; scores range from 14 to 70; higher scores indicate greater self-efficacy).
12th postpartum hour
Infant Feeding Intention
Time Frame: 12th postpartum hour
Measured using the Infant Feeding Intention Scale. Scores range from 0 to 16; higher scores indicate stronger intention to breastfeed.
12th postpartum hour
Perceived Insufficient Milk
Time Frame: 12th postpartum hour
Measured using the Perceived Insufficient Milk Scale. Higher scores indicate greater perceived milk insufficiency.
12th postpartum hour
Expressed Breast Milk Volume
Time Frame: Between 6th and 12th postpartum hours
Volume of breast milk expressed using an electric pump, measured in milliliters (mL).
Between 6th and 12th postpartum hours
Neonatal Physiological Parameters
Time Frame: 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th postpartum hours
Respiratory Rate: Measured in breaths per minute.
6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th postpartum hours
Oxygen Saturation
Time Frame: 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th postpartum hours.
Peripheral oxygen saturation measured as percentage (%).
6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th postpartum hours.
Heart Rate
Time Frame: 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th postpartum hours.
Heart rate measured in beats per minute (bpm).
6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th postpartum hours.
Partial Pressure of Oxygen (pO₂)
Time Frame: Between 6th and 12th postpartum hours.
Partial pressure of oxygen measured in mmHg.
Between 6th and 12th postpartum hours.
Partial Pressure of Carbon Dioxide (pCO₂)
Time Frame: Between 6th and 12th postpartum hours.
Partial pressure of carbon dioxide measured in mmHg.
Between 6th and 12th postpartum hours.
Blood pH
Time Frame: Between 6th and 12th postpartum hours.
Blood pH measured as a unitless value.
Between 6th and 12th postpartum hours.
Blood Lactate Level
Time Frame: Between 6th and 12th postpartum hours.
Blood lactate level measured in mmol/L.
Between 6th and 12th postpartum hours.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Biruni University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
October 1, 2022

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
September 30, 2023

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
September 30, 2023

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
May 6, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 14, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
May 20, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 20, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 14, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
October 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • Reciprocal Mother-Infant Voice

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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