With advances in newborn care, we are seeing less birth weight related mortality (death rate).  Despite the decrease in overall mortality, we continue to see neurodevelopmental deficits including subtle learning disabilities reflected in school achievement or need for special education, especially in the smallest survivors.  The development of the neurological pathways in the brain makes the integration of sensory information (smell/taste, touch, visual and hearing) possible.

The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is the only alternative environment to the human womb for the prematurely delivered infant.  With the NICU environment, these infants are subjected to many medical interventions necessary for their survival.  Among these necessary interventions, there are also many extra actions or omissions that have the potential to influence brain development in the growing premature infant.

The human brain in the term infant is still undergoing development influenced by necessary environmental exposure.  The preterm infant is exposed to these environmental factors before it may be ready.  During the time frame of 23 to 40 weeks gestation, the sensory systems are developing in a set order: first- tactile (touch), second- chemosensory (taste and smell), third- auditory (hearing) and fourth- visual (sight).

At WMC Neonatal Special Nurseries, we are involved in developing and providing care that nurtures the sensory system in the premature infants.  Parents are encouraged to participate in the care that fosters growth of their infant’s neurodevelopment.  A series of articles related to practices supporting neurosensory development follows this opening article.