Frequently Asked Questions
Why do you offer both DREAMIES and DREAMIES T-M – instead of just one?
There are distinctively different noise environments within hospital intensive care, and different hearing protection devices are required to address them. Routine NICU (or PICU) care occurs over a period of weeks, in a sound environment characterized by times of near-quiet and voice communication, punctuated by transient, loud, high-frequency noises, e.g. alarms. Hospital transport and MRI exams involve acute exposure to loud noise over a period of hours. Air and ground transport are characterized by nearly continuous, loud, low-frequency noise. MRI exams create loud noise at low sound frequencies and very loud noise at mid-range sound frequencies.
What are the differences in performance and use between DREAMIES and DREAMIES T-M?
DREAMIES are designed for continual, recurring use (CRU) with a single patient in the NICU or PICU. DREAMIES function as a low-pass sound filter allowing some beneficial human voice to be transmitted to the patient while blocking high-frequency noise such as monitor alarms. DREAMIES are engineered to stand up to 7 days of CRU with normal NICU care cycles. To date, 3 days of successful CRU has been demonstrated clinically. DREAMIES T-M block noise across the full spectrum of sound, including low-frequency engine and road noise that dominate the transport, with maximum sound blocking at frequencies where MRI noise is the loudest. DREAMIES T-M are intended for short-term use (up to 3 hours) during air or ground hospital transport, or MRI examinations on a single patient.
How do DREAMIES and DREAMIES T-M ear cups retain their position and remain comfortable for the patient?
DREAMIES and DREAMIES T-M ear cups are contoured to match the shape of an infant’s head and are held in place with a unique flexible and adjustable headband. The headband stretches only around the ear cups, to apply a uniform force to form a good acoustic seal. The headband uses smooth non-stretching silicone patches to gently grip the skin across the back of the head and the forehead of the patient without harm to the skin and head.
Do nurses and technicians find DREAMIES and DREAMIES T-M easy to use?
Yes. The step-by-step instructions for use are straightforward and were designed with NICU nurses. Many hospitals effectively train their personnel using them, alone. NEATCap also can provide training and demonstrations with appropriately sized infant dolls, should that be desired.
Can I re-use the same DREAMIES or DREAMIES T-M device on different patients?
DREAMIES and DREAMIES T-M are designed for Single Patient Use only, not intended to be cleaned. NEATCap Medical does not advocate using cleaning products on DREAMIES and DREAMIES T-M for subsequent re-use with different patients. Cleaning products and processes may alter the performance of DREAMIES including form, fit and noise attenuation function.
If I use DREAMIES T-M on a Transport, can I later use the same device on the same patient during MRI?
DREAMIES T-M are designed for short-term use up to 3 consecutive hours on newborns and infants undergoing hospital transport or MRI examinations. Compared with DREAMIES that were designed for NICU use, DREAMIES T-M have a firmer foam seal, and have not been clinically tested for longer periods of continuous use, or continual repetitive use in the NICU or PICU.
Can I use DREAMIES during Transport and MR, as well as in the NICU?
DREAMIES T-M are designed for short-term use up to 3 consecutive hours on newborns and infants undergoing hospital transport or MRI examinations. Compared with DREAMIES that were designed for NICU use, DREAMIES T-M have a firmer foam seal, and have not been clinically tested for longer periods of continuous use, or continual repetitive use in the NICU or PICU.
Can I use DREAMIES T-M In the NICU as well as for Transport and MRI?
DREAMIES T-M are designed for short-term use up to 3 consecutive hours on newborns and infants undergoing hospital transport or MRI examinations. Compared with DREAMIES that were designed for NICU use, DREAMIES T-M have a firmer foam seal, and have not been clinically tested for longer periods of continuous use, or continual repetitive use in the NICU or PICU.
Why is it important that DREAMIES T-M are labeled MR Safe?
MR Safe designation means the device poses no known hazards in all MR environments. DREAMIES T-M have been rigorously MR safety tested by a premier clinical research facility and found to be MR Safe. The testing showed DREAMIES T-M did not heat up, distort, or cause MR image artifacts.
How have you measured the sound blocking of DREAMIES and DREAMIES T-M?
Independent sound attenuation testing was conducted at a premier acoustics laboratory to obtain the data on the DREAMIES and DREAMIES T-M Instructions for Use and Datasheets. Our own DONNE (Detector of Neonatal Noise Exposure) test mannequin with independent microphones embedded in each ear was used for internal development testing, and real-world measurement of noise exposure during over 40 outbound transport runs. In these field measurements, we covered one of DONNE’s ears with an ear cup and left one ear unprotected. We compared the sound detected in each ear to verify the actual sound reduction provided by DREAMIES T-M in the real-world patient environment. See Penoyer (2023) reference on Clinical Articles page.
Do NICU patients tend to sleep longer while wearing DREAMIES?
In 2 independent studies, premature infants and NAS babies in a NICU slept about 15% longer and had increased REM sleep when they wore DREAMIES. REM sleep is critical to neurological development. See Balsan (2021) and Bloch-Salisbury (2022) references on Clinical Articles page.
Can DREAMIES or DREAMIES T-M be used in conjunction with Eyeshades, Respiratory Support or other devices?
DREAMIES are hearing protection devices that consist of low-profile ear cups held in place by a flexible stabilizing headband with a single Velcro closure, designed to be compatible during best-practice care protocols for newborn and infant ICU patients. Hospitals should evaluate whether the design and capabilities of DREAMIES integrates with their particular choice of other devices. DREAMIES have not been validated as a securement device.
Why don’t you offer an even smaller size of DREAMIES and DREAMIES T-M to fit the tiniest premature infants – less than 25-26 gestational age?
We have not performed clinical studies with micro-preemies that would require a device smaller than our Size XS. Our emphasis has been on addressing the well-documented negative effects of loud, continuous and transient noises on the vital signs, respiratory patterns and sleep of preemies over 26 weeks gestational age, term newborns and infants. For example, loud noise has been observed to elicit physiological instability in heart rate in later preterm and term newborns during ambulance transport and MRI examinations.
How are DREAMIES sold and packaged?
DREAMIES and DREAMIES T-M are sold as single devices, packaged individually in clean, but not sterile poly bags. Typically, initial starter orders of up to 15 packaged devices are placed into one shipping box. Larger quantity shipping is available.
Why are DREAMIES and DREAMIES T-M more expensive than other “ear muffs for babies?”
DREAMIES were designed and developed by a team of experienced neonatal clinicians and product design experts, and clinically validated in NICU, Transport and MRI environments by leading hospitals.The products have unique features including ear cups that are transparent and contoured to match the shape of an infant’s head with a soft foam seal. The ear cups are held in place with a unique flexible headband with smooth silicone patches that gently grip the skin without damaging the infant’s skin and head. These features result in a comfortable product with an effective acoustic seal that outperforms the competition in terms of fit, position stability, sound attenuation, and ease of use. Rather than taking a “one size fits all” approach, DREAMIES and DREAMIES T-M are provided with progressive sizing (5 sizes) to specifically fit the entire the entire population of preemies to full-term newborns to infants up to age 2 undergoing hospital intensive care. DREAMIES fit beautifully, are comfortable and block noxious noise allowing the patient to rest comfortably in whatever hospital environment they encounter. DREAMIES really work!