Assistant Professor University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Disclosure(s):
Brian B. Monson, PhD: No financial or non-financial relationships to disclose
Abstract: Fetuses can listen to and learn from auditory exposures in utero. Premature birth disrupts typical ontogenetic development of the fetus during a period of rapid neurodevelopment, with long-term behavioral consequences. For example, language deficits are a hallmark of children born very preterm. Characterizing brain development in vivo in preterm infants using neuroimaging techniques reveals that auditory cortical maturation might be particularly susceptible to preterm birth-related disturbances. By measuring preterm auditory exposures in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), we have been able to describe atypical auditory experience associated with premature transition from the intrauterine acoustic environment to that of the NICU. We are also able to relate perinatal exposures to long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes for preterm infants. Optimizing auditory exposures in the NICU may foster healthy neurodevelopment and outcomes for this fragile population.
Summary of presentation: This presentation will discuss the development of the fetal auditory nervous system following the onset of hearing in utero. Effects of auditory exposures during this stage of life will be discussed. The presentation will then characterize premature birth, including how auditory exposures in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) deviate from those in the intrauterine environment. Potential adverse effects of this deviation, and known changes in the neurodevelopmental trajectory consequent to preterm birth will be discussed. Finally, potential solutions and interventions to mitigate effects on language and auditory development for preterm infants will be presented.
Learning Objectives:
At the completion of this activity, participants should be able to:
Upon completion, participants will be able to describe fetal auditory development and the onset of hearing in humans.
Upon completion, participants will be able to describe the differences between the fetal acoustic environment and the neonatal intensive care unit.
Upon completion, participants will be able to describe the effects of premature birth on auditory and language development.