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UPMC Harrisburg’s NCIU is getting 20 Smarter Sleep Sound Machines to support language development in preterm and term infants.
RAPTbaby, the children’s division of RAPT Ventures Inc. (RIV) has partnered with UPMC Pinnacle Foundation to provide the machines.
“We designed the Smarter Sleep Sound Machine to give both parents and caregivers a new tool to support the cognitive growth of the children in their care,” said Dr. April Benasich of RIV. “We are delighted that, through this donation to the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation, our units will be placed in the UPMC-Harrisburg NICU where they can help produce the positive outcomes we all want for NICU infants.”
Co-founded by Benasich, the country’s first endowed chair in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, RVI products support brain development and performance across all stages of life.
RVI’s RAPTbaby Smarter Sleep Sound Machine has a variety of soundtracks composed to promote the alpha and delta waves important to sleep while also incorporating structured acoustic cues that stimulate parts of the young brain that should be engaged in building language networks, even during sleep, Benasich said.
At UPMC Harrisburg, the Smarter Sleep sound machines will help ensure that both preterm and term infants in the hospital’s NICU are exposed to the specific acoustic input their brains need and expect to support language acquisition, UPMC Pinnacle Foundation said.
“The UPMC Pinnacle Foundation is honored to be able to accept this generous donation from RAPTbaby on behalf of the UPMC Harrisburg NICU,” said Jessica Ritchie, president of the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation. “We are excited to know that our littlest patients will be able to benefit from the developmental benefits these Smarter Sleep Sound Machines offer.”