Open MRI: Optimizing MRI Experience for Children Living with Autism
Autism Spectrum Disorder or ASD is found in every one out of 150 eight-year-old children in the United States. Children with ASD have high sensory sensitivity, specific communication behaviors, and heightened anxiety which makes it harder for technicians to run MRI tests on them required for many diagnostic examinations. Moreover, the noises in an enclosed MRI machine are not the best environment to make them feel comfortable. Thus, it is imperative to optimize the MRI experience to make it more comfortable for them.
Let us see how advanced
open MRI near you work towards optimizing the MRI experience for children living with autism.
Adjustments to Optimize MRI experience for Children Living with Autism
Six reasonable adjustments for optimizing MRI experiences are identified for autistic patients — communication, psychology-based interventions, sensory-easing adjustments, simulation for familiarization, distraction techniques, and scan-based optimization.
Optimization #1- Efficient communication: Autistic patients often face challenges with communication and can have heightened sensitivity to certain sensory stimuli. To improve on communication needs, the radiographers-
- Contacted the patients and carers before the imaging
- Wore staff IDs to help patients with face-name associations
- Conducted pre-MRI interviews to give the autistic patients a chance to interact with the team, and more
Optimization #2- Psychology-based interventions: Applied Behavioral Analysis or ABA conducted by professional and certified behavioral analysts is found beneficial in making patients comfortable in
open MRI near you. These interventions include-
- Positive reinforcement learning strategies
- Stimulus fading sequences
- Progressive reinforcement with a mock scanner
- Individualized anxiety reduction plans
Optimization #3- Sensory-easing adjustments: Autistic patients are highly sensitive to many things. Adjustments to the environment and the patient made to ease this factor include-
- Reduction in the waiting time
- Reduction in the number of staff members to decrease factors of distractions
- A dedicated quiet area with adjustable lights for relaxation
- Specifically-designed weighted blankets
- Provision of noise-canceling headphones to reduce the thumping noises of the machine
Optimization #4- Simulation for familiarization: Simulation or mock techniques are used in MRI Passaic County to familiarize patients with the entire procedure. These include-
- Pre-visit and orientation session
- Live-modeling or peer modeling
- Illustrated storybook
- Picture schedules explaining various stages of MRI
Optimization #5- Distraction techniques: The most widely used distraction technique is to switch on music, videos, or movies during the MRI procedure to keep the patients calm.
Optimization #6- Scan-based optimization: Acoustic noises are reduced by using soft-tone sequences. Using a magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition gradient echo (MPRAGE) sequence with motion correction in non-sedated children is beneficial in obtaining motion-resistant images.
About Open MRI 17-
Are you looking for an open MRI in Paramus, NJ? Open MRI 17 is an Outpatient Diagnostic Imaging Center located on Route 17 in Paramus, New Jersey. We provide high-quality imaging services, including MRI, CT Scans, Ultrasound, Echocardiogram, and X-Ray. Excellent patient care, comfort, and experience are some of our top priorities. From the moment you walk in to the moment you leave, you will be greeted with a smile and treated like family. In addition, you can be assured of a quick follow-up with results for both you and your healthcare provider.
Visit
our website, call us at (201) 368-2005, or
email us to learn more and schedule your appointment for any of our services.
