SoundSafe: Towards an Integrated Assessment of Soundscape Quality in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

PerMagnus Lindborg; Sara Lenzi; Maria Isabel de las Cuevas

SoundSafe: Towards an Integrated Assessment of Soundscape Quality in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

PerMagnus Lindborg^*
, Sara Lenzi
, Maria Isabel de las Cuevas

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Creative Media

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary Works › RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication) › peer-review

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Abstract

Neonatal ICUs exceed WHO noise limits ¿90% of time, disrupting infant development, family bonding, and staff performance. SoundSafe develops the first integrated soundscape assessment platform for NICUs, combining privacy-preserving Machine Listening, perceptual modeling, and human-centered design. Given the sensitivity of the environment, we embed privacy by design by automatically filtering speech in audio recordings. We deploy a multichannel audio array in Hospital Universitario de Donostia NICU, filtering speech via Universal Speech Codec while classifying sound types using YAMnet and extracting psychoacoustic features. Families and medical staff rate affective qualities per ISO 12913-2. We develop a SoundSafe Quality Index (SSQI) that integrates acoustic, event, and perceptual layers to predict soundscape quality. Co-designed with healthcare professionals via participatory workshops, the SSQI dashboard provides real-time, actionable insights on hospital tablets. Preliminary measurements show 51-56 dBA daytime levels vs. WHO 35 dBA target. Hospitals need a sustainable solution to assess soundscape quality. SoundSafe advances data-centric soundscape assessment for healthcare, supporting Spain’s Digital Health Strategy 2021-26. ©2026 Lindborg et al.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of the 12th Convention of the European Acoustics Association Forum Acusticum 2026
Place of Publication	Graz, Austria
Number of pages	6
Publication status	Accepted/In press/Filed - 11 Jun 2026
Event	12th Convention of the European Acoustics Association Forum Acusticum 2026 - Messecongress Graz, Graz, Austria Duration: 8 Sept 2026 → 12 Sept 2026 https://forum-acusticum.org/fa2026/

Conference

Conference	12th Convention of the European Acoustics Association Forum Acusticum 2026
Place	Austria
City	Graz
Period	8/09/26 → 12/09/26
Internet address	https://forum-acusticum.org/fa2026/

Bibliographical note

Since this conference is yet to commence, the information for this record is subject to revision.

Research Keywords

soundscape
neonatal intensive care
machine listening
design

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2 RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication)
1 RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SleepSound: Charting the Nighttime Soundscape and Sleep Quality in Hong Kong through Machine Listening and AI-supported Information Design
Lindborg, P., Lenzi, S., Li, S. X. & Li, X., 29 Jan 2025, Proceedings of the 3rd Conference on Sonification of Health and Environmental Data (SoniHED 2025). Pauletto, S. (ed.). Zenodo, p. 30-37 8 p.
Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary Works › RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication) › peer-review

Open Access
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Perceived Quality of a Nighttime Hospital Soundscape
Lenzi, S., Lindborg, P., Spagnol, S., Kamphuis, D. & Özcan, E., 2024, In: Noise Mapping. 11, 1, 20240010.
Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

Open Access
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4 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)

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DISTURBED SLEEP: ESTIMATING NIGHT-TIME SOUND ANNOYANCE AT A HOSPITAL WARD
Lenzi, S., Lindborg, P., Han, N., Spagnol, S., Kamphuis, D. & Özcan, E., Sept 2023, Proceedings of Forum Acusticum 2023 - 10th Convention of EAA. Astolfi, A., Asdrubali, F. & Shtrepi, L. (eds.). European Acoustics Association, EAA, p. 2607-2614 8 p. (Proceedings of Forum Acusticum).
Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary Works › RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication) › peer-review

Open Access
File
3 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)

23 Downloads (CityUHK Scholars)

1 Talk/lecture

SoundSafe: Plataforma integrada para la evaluación de la calidad acústica en cuidados intensivos neonatales
Lindborg, P. M. (Speaker) & Lenzi, S. (Speaker)
11 Mar 2026
Activity: Talk/lecture or presentation › Talk/lecture

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Cite this

@inproceedings{fe2573f4b50e49ef9da7a5fdbb91b4b0,

title = "SoundSafe: Towards an Integrated Assessment of Soundscape Quality in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit",

abstract = "Neonatal ICUs exceed WHO noise limits ¿90\% of time, disrupting infant development, family bonding, and staff performance. SoundSafe develops the first integrated soundscape assessment platform for NICUs, combining privacy-preserving Machine Listening, perceptual modeling, and human-centered design. Given the sensitivity of the environment, we embed privacy by design by automatically filtering speech in audio recordings. We deploy a multichannel audio array in Hospital Universitario de Donostia NICU, filtering speech via Universal Speech Codec while classifying sound types using YAMnet and extracting psychoacoustic features. Families and medical staff rate affective qualities per ISO 12913-2. We develop a SoundSafe Quality Index (SSQI) that integrates acoustic, event, and perceptual layers to predict soundscape quality. Co-designed with healthcare professionals via participatory workshops, the SSQI dashboard provides real-time, actionable insights on hospital tablets. Preliminary measurements show 51-56 dBA daytime levels vs. WHO 35 dBA target. Hospitals need a sustainable solution to assess soundscape quality. SoundSafe advances data-centric soundscape assessment for healthcare, supporting Spain{\textquoteright}s Digital Health Strategy 2021-26. {\textcopyright}2026 Lindborg et al.",

keywords = "soundscape, neonatal intensive care, machine listening, design",

author = "PerMagnus Lindborg and Sara Lenzi and \{de las Cuevas\}, \{Maria Isabel\}",

note = "Since this conference is yet to commence, the information for this record is subject to revision.; 12th Convention of the European Acoustics Association Forum Acusticum 2026 ; Conference date: 08-09-2026 Through 12-09-2026",

year = "2026",

month = jun,

day = "11",

language = "English",

booktitle = "Proceedings of the 12th Convention of the European Acoustics Association Forum Acusticum 2026",

url = "https://forum-acusticum.org/fa2026/",

}

SoundSafe: Towards an Integrated Assessment of Soundscape Quality in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. / Lindborg, PerMagnus; Lenzi, Sara; de las Cuevas, Maria Isabel.
Proceedings of the 12th Convention of the European Acoustics Association Forum Acusticum 2026. Graz, Austria, 2026.

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary Works › RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication) › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - SoundSafe

T2 - 12th Convention of the European Acoustics Association Forum Acusticum 2026

AU - Lindborg, PerMagnus

AU - Lenzi, Sara

AU - de las Cuevas, Maria Isabel

N1 - Since this conference is yet to commence, the information for this record is subject to revision.

PY - 2026/6/11

Y1 - 2026/6/11

N2 - Neonatal ICUs exceed WHO noise limits ¿90% of time, disrupting infant development, family bonding, and staff performance. SoundSafe develops the first integrated soundscape assessment platform for NICUs, combining privacy-preserving Machine Listening, perceptual modeling, and human-centered design. Given the sensitivity of the environment, we embed privacy by design by automatically filtering speech in audio recordings. We deploy a multichannel audio array in Hospital Universitario de Donostia NICU, filtering speech via Universal Speech Codec while classifying sound types using YAMnet and extracting psychoacoustic features. Families and medical staff rate affective qualities per ISO 12913-2. We develop a SoundSafe Quality Index (SSQI) that integrates acoustic, event, and perceptual layers to predict soundscape quality. Co-designed with healthcare professionals via participatory workshops, the SSQI dashboard provides real-time, actionable insights on hospital tablets. Preliminary measurements show 51-56 dBA daytime levels vs. WHO 35 dBA target. Hospitals need a sustainable solution to assess soundscape quality. SoundSafe advances data-centric soundscape assessment for healthcare, supporting Spain’s Digital Health Strategy 2021-26. ©2026 Lindborg et al.

AB - Neonatal ICUs exceed WHO noise limits ¿90% of time, disrupting infant development, family bonding, and staff performance. SoundSafe develops the first integrated soundscape assessment platform for NICUs, combining privacy-preserving Machine Listening, perceptual modeling, and human-centered design. Given the sensitivity of the environment, we embed privacy by design by automatically filtering speech in audio recordings. We deploy a multichannel audio array in Hospital Universitario de Donostia NICU, filtering speech via Universal Speech Codec while classifying sound types using YAMnet and extracting psychoacoustic features. Families and medical staff rate affective qualities per ISO 12913-2. We develop a SoundSafe Quality Index (SSQI) that integrates acoustic, event, and perceptual layers to predict soundscape quality. Co-designed with healthcare professionals via participatory workshops, the SSQI dashboard provides real-time, actionable insights on hospital tablets. Preliminary measurements show 51-56 dBA daytime levels vs. WHO 35 dBA target. Hospitals need a sustainable solution to assess soundscape quality. SoundSafe advances data-centric soundscape assessment for healthcare, supporting Spain’s Digital Health Strategy 2021-26. ©2026 Lindborg et al.

KW - soundscape

KW - neonatal intensive care

KW - machine listening

KW - design

M3 - RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication)

BT - Proceedings of the 12th Convention of the European Acoustics Association Forum Acusticum 2026

CY - Graz, Austria

Y2 - 8 September 2026 through 12 September 2026

ER -

SoundSafe: Towards an Integrated Assessment of Soundscape Quality in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Conference

Bibliographical note

Research Keywords

Permanent Link

Fingerprint

Research output

SleepSound: Charting the Nighttime Soundscape and Sleep Quality in Hong Kong through Machine Listening and AI-supported Information Design

Perceived Quality of a Nighttime Hospital Soundscape

DISTURBED SLEEP: ESTIMATING NIGHT-TIME SOUND ANNOYANCE AT A HOSPITAL WARD

Activities

SoundSafe: Plataforma integrada para la evaluación de la calidad acústica en cuidados intensivos neonatales

Cite this