Background noise in the operating room, especially when music is also present, decreases surgeons' auditory processing, according to a study in Journal of the American College of Surgeons reported by the American College of Surgeons.
Researchers assessed the effect of OR noise — such as the sound of equipment, staff members and music — on surgeons' ability to process auditory information. Researchers tested surgeons' ability to understand and repeat words in four noise conditions in both tasked and untasked situations: quiet, filtered noise through a mask, background noise with music and background noise without music.
Speech comprehension decreased with background noise when the words were unpredictable. Auditory performance was also lower when surgeons were tasked and music was present compared with quiet and background noise without music. Low predictability of words exacerbated the effect of music on speech comprehension.
"To avoid possible miscommunication in the OR, attempts should be made to reduce ambient noise levels," the authors concluded.
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Researchers assessed the effect of OR noise — such as the sound of equipment, staff members and music — on surgeons' ability to process auditory information. Researchers tested surgeons' ability to understand and repeat words in four noise conditions in both tasked and untasked situations: quiet, filtered noise through a mask, background noise with music and background noise without music. Speech comprehension decreased with background noise when the words were unpredictable. Auditory performance was also lower when surgeons were tasked and music was present compared with quiet and background noise without music. Low predictability of words exacerbated the effect of music on speech comprehension.
"To avoid possible miscommunication in the OR, attempts should be made to reduce ambient noise levels," the authors concluded.
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