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REVIEW article

Front. Neurol.
Sec. Pediatric Neurology
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1441576
This article is part of the Research Topic Medical Neurohumanities: Sharing Insights from Medicine, Neuroscience and Music in Pediatric Care View all 6 articles

Early Parental Vocal Contact in Neonatal Units: Rationale and Clinical Guidelines for Implementation

Provisionally accepted
Manuela Filippa Manuela Filippa 1*PIERRE KUHN PIERRE KUHN 2
  • 1 University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
  • 2 Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, Alsace, France

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    This paper aims to present clear and evidence-based proposals for the integration of Early Parental Vocal Contact into the clinical practices of neonatal units.In the first part, we present a comprehensive rationale exploring the ontogenesis of voice perception in both term and preterm newborns that establishes a foundational understanding.This knowledge serves as a crucial starting point for developing evidence-based auditory and multisensory interventions aimed at fostering the developmental trajectory of preterm infants.Drawing insights from neuroscience and brain development, our proposals underscore the significance of tailoring auditory environments within neonatal settings. Special attention is given to the unique needs of preterm infants, factoring in their gestational age and maturation levels.In the second part clinical guidelines for implementation are provided and healthcare professionals are supported to assist parents in modulating their vocal interactions, aligning them with the infant's responses. Furthermore, we provide practical suggestions for engaging in discussions with parents about the content, duration, and frequency of vocal interventions.Finally, we delve into the potential roles of caregivers, parents, and health professionals within this enriched parental vocal interactional environment. Our perspective is firmly grounded in an infant and family-centered developmental care philosophy, aiming to enhance the overall well-being and the neurodevelopment of preterm infants in neonatal units.

    Keywords: preterm infants, Early vocal contact, Maternal voice, guidelines & recommendations, Early Intervention

    Received: 31 May 2024; Accepted: 19 Aug 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Filippa and KUHN. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Manuela Filippa, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.