Auditory stimulation for ICU delirium management: a scoping review and evidence summary

Background: Delirium is a common complication in critically ill ICU patients, associated with increased mortality, prolonged hospitalization, and long-term cognitive impairment. Auditory stimulation (AS) has emerged as a non-pharmacological approach, but existing evidence is heterogeneous and often limited to single modalities. Objectives: To systematically synthesize the best available evidence on AS for delirium management in adult ICU patients and to organize the findings into a structured, practice-oriented implementation framework. Methods: A two-stage approach integrating a scoping review and evidence synthesis was used. Searches were conducted across multiple databases up to March 2026. Eligible sources included guidelines, expert consensus, evidence summaries, systematic reviews, RCTs, and quasi-experimental studies. Evidence was appraised using standardized tools and classified according to the Joanna Briggs Institute hierarchy.