7 year old brain MRI experience

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My 7 year old needs a brain MRI - if your child has had one did they do it awake or under GA? I think he'd struggle awake but GA seems a lot

Hi there. My son had one at about age 10. He's autistic and ADHD so I was really concerned and the hospital offered to do it via GA but he was ok without it. There are lots of clips on YouTube especially for children which we watched beforehand so he was more aware of what was going to happen and what the experience would be like (especially the noise of the MRI). My son didn't last the full time but it was sufficient for the checks they needed to do. Good luck x

My DC has been having MRIs since they were 2yo under GA. They then started having them without GA at age 7. We prepped at home with practice of keeping still in the bath with pillows around and playing the loud MRI sound. I was able to sit in the MrI room with them and held foot for reassurance. Also play specialist also showed Lego and spoke about what happens etc before going in. My DC is pretty chilled out to be honest, if his personality wasn't that way it may have not been so easy

There's also the half way house of sedation?

My daughter had one when age was 8 or 9. No sedation. She was OK but she was not a super energetic jumping around kind of girl.

Ask if they have a play therapy service at the hospital, and if they can watch a dvd during the scan?

My 3 year had one and was sedated for it, she just about stayed sedated for the duration or the MRI and woke almost immediately afterwards. I was in the room and the noise was deafening so I’m shocked she didn’t wake during it, the sedation worked really well.