Effect of Earmuffs on Physiological Stability, Sleep-Wake States, and Weight Gain in Preterm Neonates

November 11, 2026 updated by: Marwa Yasir alwan, University of Baghdad

Effect of Earmuffs on Physiological Stability, Sleep-Wake States, and Weight Gain in Preterm Neonates: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study aims to evaluate the effect of earmuffs on physiological stability, sleep-wake states, and weight gain in preterm neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). The study will compare preterm neonates receiving earmuffs in addition to routine nursing care with those receiving routine nursing care alone. Physiological stability will be assessed by measuring heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and body temperature. Sleep-wake states will be assessed using the Anderson Behavioral State Scoring (ABSS) system, and weight gain will be evaluated through body-weight measurements. The study may provide evidence on the potential role of earmuffs as a supportive nursing intervention for preterm neonates.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

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.

Detailed Description

Preterm neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) may be exposed to environmental noise generated by monitoring devices, alarms, respiratory support equipment, and routine staff activities. Because preterm neonates have immature physiological and neurological systems, protecting their developmental environment is an important aspect of neonatal supportive care.

Earmuffs may help reduce neonates' exposure to environmental noise. However, their effects on physiological stability, sleep-wake states, and weight gain need further evaluation. This study will investigate these outcomes to contribute evidence on the potential role of earmuffs in supportive nursing care for preterm neonates.

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 (Estimated)

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.
80

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 Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

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

1 day to 2 weeks (Child)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Preterm neonates born at 28-36 completed weeks of gestation. 2. Neonates admitted to the NICU and requiring incubator care. 3. Clinically stable preterm neonates.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Neonates requiring mechanical ventilation. 2. Neonates with congenital anomalies 3. Neonates with neurological or brain disorders 4. Neonates with severe sepsis

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: Earmuff Intervention Group

Preterm neonates receive earmuffs in addition to routine nursing care.
Device: Neonatal Earmuffs

External neonatal earmuffs will be used as a non-pharmacological intervention to reduce preterm neonates' exposure to environmental noise in the neonatal intensive care unit. The earmuffs will be applied according to the manufacturer's instructions and the study protocol. The intervention group will receive earmuffs in addition to routine neonatal care.
No Intervention: Control Group

Preterm neonates receive routine nursing care alone, without the earmuff intervention.

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
Sleep-Wake States in Preterm Neonates
Time Frame: Daily for 5 days (each daily intervention session lasts 4 hours). For each session, measurements will be taken at: 2 minutes pre-intervention, during intervention, immediately post-intervention, and 1 hour post-intervention.

(ABSS) system.Sleep-wake states will be assessed using the Anderson Behavioral State Scale (ABSS). The scale ranges from 1 to 12. Scores from 1-4 indicate sleep states, 5-7 indicate awake states, and 8-12 indicate restless states. Higher scores indicate a worse outcome (more restless/fussy), while lower scores indicate a better outcome (deep sleep).
Daily for 5 days (each daily intervention session lasts 4 hours). For each session, measurements will be taken at: 2 minutes pre-intervention, during intervention, immediately post-intervention, and 1 hour post-intervention.
Heart Rate in Preterm Neonates
Time Frame: Daily for 5 days (each daily intervention session lasts 4 hours). For each session, measurements will be taken at: 2 minutes pre-intervention, during intervention, immediately post-intervention, and 1 hour post-intervention.

Heart rate will be measured in beats per minute (bpm) using a pulse oximeter.
Daily for 5 days (each daily intervention session lasts 4 hours). For each session, measurements will be taken at: 2 minutes pre-intervention, during intervention, immediately post-intervention, and 1 hour post-intervention.
Respiratory Rate in Preterm Neonates
Time Frame: intervention.Daily for 5 days (each daily intervention session lasts 4 hours). For each session, measurements will be taken at: 2 minutes pre-intervention, during intervention, immediately post-intervention, and 1 hour post-intervention.

Respiratory rate will be measured by direct observation for one minute (counting breaths per minute).
intervention.Daily for 5 days (each daily intervention session lasts 4 hours). For each session, measurements will be taken at: 2 minutes pre-intervention, during intervention, immediately post-intervention, and 1 hour post-intervention.
Oxygen Saturation (SpO2) in Preterm Neonates
Time Frame: Daily for 5 days (each daily intervention session lasts 4 hours). For each session, measurements will be taken at: 2 minutes pre-intervention, during intervention, immediately post-intervention, and 1 hour post-intervention.

Oxygen saturation will be measured as a percentage (%) using a pulse oximeter.
Daily for 5 days (each daily intervention session lasts 4 hours). For each session, measurements will be taken at: 2 minutes pre-intervention, during intervention, immediately post-intervention, and 1 hour post-intervention.

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
Weight Gain in Preterm Neonates
Time Frame: Baseline (Day 1), Day 5 (end of intervention), and Day 10 (follow-up).

Body weight will be measured in grams using a calibrated neonatal weighing scale, and weight change will be assessed.
Baseline (Day 1), Day 5 (end of intervention), and Day 10 (follow-up).

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.
University of Baghdad

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 (Estimated)

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.
November 20, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

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.
February 20, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

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.
July 15, 2027

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).
November 4, 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.
November 11, 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.
November 12, 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.
November 12, 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.
November 11, 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.
November 1, 2026

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.
  • UOB-EARMUFFS-2026

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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