How to Pronounce Respiratory Distress Syndrome of the Newborn
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Respiratory Distress Syndrome of the Newborn Pronunciation
RES-pih-rah-tor-ee dih-STRES SIN-drohm of the NOO-born
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
RES
stress here
pih
rah
tor
ee dih
STRES SIN
stress here
drohm of the NOO
born
8 syllables
What is Respiratory Distress Syndrome of the Newborn?
The most common respiratory disorder of premature infants, caused by a deficiency of pulmonary surfactant in immature lungs that leads to widespread alveolar collapse, severe hypoxemia, and respiratory failure. Antenatal steroids and postnatal surfactant therapy have dramatically improved outcomes.
Questions About Respiratory Distress Syndrome of the Newborn
How do you pronounce 'Respiratory Distress Syndrome of the Newborn'?
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Say it like this: RES-pih-rah-tor-ee dih-STRES SIN-drohm of the NOO-born. The stress falls on the first syllable of 'respiratory' (RES) and on the first syllable of 'distress' (dih-STRES). Break it into chunks and say each part clearly, then put them together.
What does 'respiratory' mean in this term?
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Respiratory relates to breathing and the lungs. It comes from the Latin word 'respirare,' which means 'to breathe.' So 'respiratory' literally means 'having to do with breathing.'
What does 'syndrome' mean?
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A syndrome is a group of symptoms or signs that happen together and point to a specific condition. The word comes from Greek and means 'running together.' Think of it as a collection of things that occur at the same time.
What is the easiest way to break this term into syllables?
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Break it into four main parts: (1) RES-pih-rah-tor-ee, (2) dih-STRES, (3) SIN-drohm, (4) of the NOO-born. Each part has its own rhythm, which makes the whole phrase easier to say.
What's the most common mistake people make when saying this term?
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Many people stress the wrong syllable in 'respiratory'—they say res-pih-RAH-tor-ee instead of RES-pih-rah-tor-ee. Remember to stress the first syllable: RES. The same applies to 'distress'—stress the first part: dih-STRES, not dis-TRESS.
Is there a shorter way to say or write this term?
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Yes, doctors often use the abbreviation RDS or IRDS (Infant Respiratory Distress Syndrome) in writing. You still pronounce the full term when speaking, but you might hear healthcare workers refer to it as 'RDS' (pronounced letter-by-letter: R-D-S).
What does 'distress' mean in medical terms?
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Distress means severe difficulty or struggle. In this case, 'respiratory distress' means the body is struggling hard to breathe. It's the same word you'd use to describe any kind of serious struggle or difficulty.
What would you use instead of 'newborn' to understand this term?
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A newborn is a baby that has just been born, usually only days or weeks old. In this term, 'of the newborn' means this condition affects very young babies. You could also say 'neonatal' (nee-oh-NAY-tul) instead of 'of the newborn.'