Sound Monitors Protect Premature Babies

By TOM MURPHY, AP Business Writer

A sound level indicator of the Sonicu system hangs from the ceiling of the neonatal intensive care unit at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, Wednesday, March 19, 2008. The unit measures noise and displays a visual representation of measured sound levels. As decibels rise, the colors change from green to yellow to red, hushing chatty parents or doctors so the babies get the rest they need to develop. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

(AP) -- Warning lights hover over the snoozing patients in Riley Hospital for Children's neonatal intensive care unit, ready to flash whenever sound levels creep beyond normal conversation. As decibels rise, the colors on the new monitoring system change from green to yellow to red, hushing chatty parents or doctors so the babies get the rest they need to develop.

Content from The Associated Press expires 15 days after original publication date. For more information about The Associated Press, please visit www.ap.org .

ť Next Article in Medicine & Health - Health: Hidden tragedy of under reported neonatal mortality