Stanford Study Reveals Benefits of Mother’s Voice for Premature Babies

A recent clinical trial from Stanford University suggests that a mother’s voice may significantly aid the language processing abilities of premature infants. Researchers, led by Dr. Melissa Scala, conducted their study at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, where they explored the effects of maternal voice on the neurological development of these vulnerable babies.

The study involved recording mothers reading from the classic children’s book, Paddington Bear, to their premature infants. The goal was to play these recordings for several hours each night, mimicking the auditory experiences that full-term babies typically receive during the final months of pregnancy. According to Dr. Scala, babies can start hearing around 24 weeks of gestation, which is crucial for their development. “It’s interesting that this predates when the baby is actually born,” she noted.

During the trial, the research team used MRI scans to compare the brain activity of infants who were exposed to their mothers’ voices with that of a control group. The findings revealed a marked increase in neural development in areas associated with language processing, highlighting the potential impact of maternal interaction even before birth. “We were amazed to see the strength of the effect that we got,” Dr. Scala remarked.

This research builds on previous studies that have shown how unborn infants develop a preference for their mother’s voice over others. The relationship is believed to play a significant role in the neural development of full-term babies, and Dr. Scala and her colleagues aimed to see if this connection holds true for premature infants as well.

For families like that of Kristine Atom, who has two premature children, the implications are profound. Atom spent ten weeks reading to her son, Kieran, during his stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). “I think it’s super important to provide that, both because of the stress of the whole family under as well as a benefit for the babies and the family as a whole,” she stated. Although Atom and Kieran were not part of the study, their experience reflects the potential benefits of maternal voice exposure.

Looking ahead, Dr. Scala and her research team plan to validate their findings with a larger group of participants, potentially including infants with more significant health challenges. The hope is that this research will encourage more families of premature infants to engage in reading and vocal interaction, utilizing the comforting sound of a mother’s voice as a tool for developmental support.

As the study highlights, the power of a mother’s voice extends beyond mere comfort; it may play a crucial role in enhancing the cognitive abilities of premature infants, setting the stage for their future language development and overall well-being.