![]() Inappropriate terms, for example, include the following: " it is really loud, but it will not hurt you" or "how are you doing inside the machine?. Doing so can avoid misconceptions or a frightening atmosphere. Terminology: The terminology and practices used during pediatric neuroimaging sessions should be carefully chosen. ( A) Appropriateness: Appropriateness describes the frameworks and contexts used to present activities and materials during the neuroimaging session in relation to the age group studied. As training and MRI rooms can be cold, a blanket may offer the child additional comfort. hospital gowns) should be available if needed. Children may prefer to wear their own clothing. In addition, children and their parents should be allowed to choose whether they prefer to have one parent be present in the MRI room during the fMRI experiment.Ĭlothing: Clothing with no metallic pieces (e.g., buttons or zippers) is mandatory. We further provide the child with a sticker chart, a CD with the child's structural brain images, and a treasure chest with a gift certificate and other small prizes.įamily & Friends: One way to facilitate active participation during a neuroimaging session is to encourage the participating children to invite their family, siblings and friends or to bring their own stuffed animals or toys. The mock scanner area can be designed in a child-friendly manner by adding stuffed animals, placing a few toys in the room (not too many because this could be distracting), having parents and siblings sit on child-size chairs and table, and providing some parent-approved snacks and drinks. Without a static magnetic field, it is a safe place to familiarize the child with the imaging procedure in a child-appropriate way. This room provides the same equipment (e.g. including a mock MR scanner mirroring an actual MR scanner's appearance and the sounds produced) 20. Ideally, a mock scanner area replicates the actual MRI room and MR scanner to the greatest extent possible (e.g. ( C) Comfort: Comfort is defined as the emotional state of a young participant involved in an imaging session where the feeling of threat is minimized and security is maximized.Įnvironment: In line with other research groups 19,20, we consider the mock scanner area an ideal place to start a neuroimaging session. We highlight comfort, appropriateness and motivation ( CAM) and provide definitions of these concepts. In the current video report, we present a pediatric neuroimaging protocol with guidelines and procedures that have proven to be successful to date in young children.Īs in every testing session with pediatric populations, general guidelines and recommendations for how best to work with young children should be considered 24. One of the main advances of such techniques for the clinical practice is the possibility of avoiding sedation or general anesthesia (GA) as a way to manage children's compliance during MR imaging sessions 19,20. Even more importantly, these strategies have proven to increase the comfort of families and children involved 12. Play therapy 12, behavioral approaches 13, 14,15, 16-18 and simulation 19, the use of mock scanner areas 20,21, basic relaxation 22 and a combination of these techniques 23 have all been shown to improve the participant's compliance and thus MRI data quality. Various strategies and techniques have been reported as a means to ensure comfort and cooperation of young children during neuroimaging sessions. As an example, several research groups are currently working towards early detection of developmental disorders, potentially even before children present associated behavioral characteristics e.g.11. A progressive use of functional and structural neuroimaging in younger age groups, however, could further add to our understanding of brain development. Researchers or clinicians need to consider time constraints, movement restriction, scanner background noise and unfamiliarity with the MR scanner environment 2,4-10. Anxiety may be an additional factor to be addressed. To name just a few, the child participants are challenged by a need for motivation, alertness and cooperation. Practical as well as technical challenges when imaging children present clinicians and research teams with a unique set of problems 3, 2. ![]() Although advances in neuroimaging tools and techniques are apparent, (f)MRI in young pediatric populations remains relatively infrequent 2. Moreover, this non-invasive imaging method has grown into a tool for clinicians and researchers to explore typical and atypical brain development. ![]() Within the last decade there has been an increase in the use of structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the neural basis of human perception, cognition and behavior 1, 2. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |