"MRI experience"

I attended for a head MRI in July. I am a bilateral hearing aid user and obviously needed to remove these for the scan. I felt really anxious about being in the scanner and not being able to hear anyone.  I vocalised my concern to the radiographers present.  I was given a pump style buzzer to use in an emergency. I was asked to test this to allow me to hear that someone was aware of any concern.  I could not hear the buzzer on the test, I advised those present of this, I was told make sure you press it hard and it will be fine.

I was then given headphones to wear to listen to music to help minimise the noise of the machine. The music was extremely faint to me.  Then when the radiographers spoke over the headphones by the time I recognised that there was a voice speaking they had finished talking, therefore unaware of what was being said to me. I felt alone, scared and isolated while in the machine. I feel that there was no recognition of my hearing disability and the heightened anxiety that is experienced when you can't hear the world around you. Adding a restricted space where you are confined within a head cage to this made the whole experience quite traumatic.

Once the scan was over I informed the radiographer that I could not hear them. I was met with I was talking to you. I could not get out of the room quick enough. I needed to get to an environment where I felt safe and back in control of my surroundings.