18 Aug 😬Been told that your child may need an MRI brain scan to determine the cause of their developmental delay?
🧠A brain MRI scan is used to capture detailed images of the brain’s structure and tissues. It is typically used when there is a suspected neurological or brain-related issue. The decision to perform an MRI scan on a child is made by a Peadiatrician or a Neurologist, based on the child’s medical history, symptoms, and clinical examination. Here are a few issues that needs to be considered.
🤔The first issue with having a brain MRI scan is young children and babies may have difficulty remaining still during an MRI scan, which requires minimal movement to obtain clear images. As a result, general anaesthesia is often necessary to ensure that the child remains still throughout the procedure. While these are generally safe, there are always potential risks associated with anaesthesia administration, such as allergic reactions, breathing problems, or changes in heart rate.
🤔The second issue with brain MRI scans is the results and impact on treatment decisions. Sometimes brain MRI scans do not reveal any issues in the brain yet the child is clearly struggling with their gross motor skills. At other times, brain MRIs reveal a structural abnormality in the child’s brain which is not operable. In both situations, the treatment strategy is Early Intervention Physiotherapy to help the child learn to move better. There are times when brain MRI scan does indicate a brain abnormality that requires surgery, after which Early Intervention Physiotherapy is required to help the child recovery and learn to move better.
Frequently, Paediatricians 👩⚕️will recommend families commence on Early Intervention Paediatric Physiotherapy ASAP, while awaiting for a brain MRI scan. And often, a child demonstrates significant improvement in their gross motor skills with Physiotherapy, that eventually a brain MRI scan is never done.
If you are concerned about your child’s gross motor skills, ring My Favourite Physio on 📱(02) 9790 4233 or DM us @myfavouritephysio to speak to one of our Expert Paediatric Physiotherapists today!🤓