Home Preparation

Thank you for visiting our home preparation page. When your participation in a study is confirmed, you will be provided with a package containing a CD with MRI sounds, a video showing the MRI procedure, a book showing the step-by-step procedures and tips on how to practice. If you have not received these yet, or just wish to role-play the MRI situation before committing to a study, you can follow the procedures on this web page.

We'd like you to get ready for your visit by doing the following things at home

A) Watch the Getting Ready for Your MRI video (105.5 MB Quicktime video)

 B) Listen to the MRI sounds. There are seven tracks.

• • Intro to MRI
  • Mixed sounds
  • Intro to structural MRI
  • Structural sounds
  • Intro to functional MRI (fMRI)
  • Functional sounds
  • DTI sounds
  • One hour long MRI sounds

• Practice the Statue Game.

Following these steps at home will allow you to learn the skills you will need before you come to Stanford. We have found that preparing at home leads to a more relaxed, fun, and successful MRI experience. You can help us by taking the time to practice at home well in advance of your visit. Please contact us if you have any questions that come up during your home preparation.

C) Sleep Deprivation Scans

In some situations, a sleep deprivation MRI scan may be appropriate for your child. Prior to scheduling, a member of our team will ask a few questions about your child’s sleeping habits (i.e. back or side sleeper, easy to wake up, etc.). A week before the scan, we will have you play the MRI sounds after your child’s bedtime so that they can get used to the noise.

On the day of the scan, we recommend that you wake your child up an hour earlier than their normal waking time, skipping their daytime nap, and plan activities for the day that will make your child tired. Your child can wear their pajamas and bring along any bedtime items (i.e. blankets, stuffed animals, etc.) that you feel will help them fall asleep comfortably. We will pre-screen all of these items for MRI safety and compatibility.

Every child is different and we have a number of strategies that we employ to make the experience for you and your family as pleasant as possible. Some of these tactics include: turning off most lights in the scanner room, covering machinery with blankets, and playing soft music. Please contact us if you have any ideas unique to your child that you feel would be helpful.