Effect of Auditory Stimulation with Occupational Noise on the Consciousness Level of Comatose Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury: A Clinical Trial Study

Abstract

Introduction: Auditory stimulation is a treatment method for sensory deprivation of comatose patients, which helps wake up the patient by activating the choroid plexuses in the brain. Objective: This study aims to determine the effect of auditory stimulation with occupational noise on the consciousness level of comatose patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Materials and Methods: This clinical trial was conducted on 50 comatose patients with TBI hospitalized in intensive care units of one of the hospitals in Qom City, Iran. They were randomly assigned to two groups of control (n=25) and intervention (n=25) using the block randomization method. The intervention group received auditory stimulation with occupational voice for 10 days in the morning and evening shifts, each for 15-20 minutes. The consciousness level of patients was evaluated before and after stimulation using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). The obtained data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Chi-square test, the independent t test, and the generalized estimating equations model. Results: The Mean±SD ages of the patients were 35.92±14.68 years in the intervention group and 33.32±13.74 years in the control group. No significant difference was observed between the two groups regarding demographic or disease-related variables. The Mean±SD scores of GCS before the stimulation were 5.28±1.81 in the control group and 5.12±1.90 in the intervention group. This difference was not statistically significant. The mean ± SD scores of GCS after the stimulation were 6.60±3.25 in the control group and 8.80±4.05 in the intervention group. This difference was statistically significant (P=0.038). The level of consciousness in the intervention group increased more than in the control group in the 10 th day of study. Conclusion: Auditory stimulation with occupational noise can increase the consciousness level of comatose patients with TBI. Auditory stimulation can raise the consciousness level of these patients hospitalized in intensive care units.