An MRI can be a scary experience, even for an adult. While your teenager might want you to believe that they are ready for adulthood, they probably have a little fear surrounding the idea of an MRI. Since the process is necessary, there are some things you can do to help ease his or her fears:
Leave Time for Questions
Once you find out that your child will need an MRI, speak with the healthcare team to see if you can arrange a time for your family to sit down with the provider. This time is especially crucial for minimizing any concerns the child might have. Before the meeting, ask your child if they have any questions that they would like to ask.
Write the questions down and take them to the meeting. Oftentimes, it is not the actual MRI that is scary but the unknowns that go along with the process. The more questions your child can have answered, the calmer they will be about the process.
Plan Wisely
You should also make it a point to schedule the time for the procedure wisely. If the procedure is immediately necessary, then, by all means, follow the orders of the physician. However, if you have a little flexibility, take advantage of it. You never want to schedule the appointment at the same time your child has another activity going on.
For example, if your son or daughter has to miss soccer practice, they probably won't be happy about it and will be agitated. You should also ensure that you don't schedule the appointment just before any important events. Depending on the number of images the provider needs to collect, it's not unheard of for the entire process to last longer than an hour. You don't want to be in a rush.
Bring Music
Make sure you encourage your child to bring along music. As previously mentioned, an MRI can last for several minutes. The music can help pass the time. However, the music can also be a tremendous distraction tool. If your child doesn't like being in confined spaces, they can close their eyes, listen to the music, and drift out to a different place in their mind.
However, make sure you let your child know that they can listen to the music, but they can't move to the beat. Moving during an MRI will only prolong the process, which is not the goal.
These are just some of the measures you can take to keep your child more comfortable. You can ask the provider team for more helpful hints. If you have questions about the MRI process, contact companies like Kenai Peninsula Imaging Center, LLC.
