Helping your child understand what to expect can significantly reduce their anxiety. You can explain the MRI machine as a large, safe tube that acts like a camera to take pictures of the inside of their body. It is important to reassure them that the machine will never touch or hurt them during the process.
To prepare them for the noise, you can explain that:
- The sounds are normal: The machine makes loud banging, knocking, and thumping noises specifically when it is “taking pictures.”
- We provide protection: Because these sounds can sometimes exceed 100 decibels, we provide earplugs or headphones to protect your child’s hearing and minimize the noise.
- Communication is always open: Let your child know that our technologist can talk to them through an intercom at any time if they feel nervous.
We also recommend making a game out of “practicing” at home. You can have your child pretend to be a statue or an astronaut in a spaceship to help them get used to staying very still, which is the most important job they have during the scan.
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