From the October 2017 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine

First, the level of hearing protection provided to the patient must meet or exceed standards. MR equipment can generate up to 110 decibels of sound. The accepted level of sound that the human ear can be exposed to without hearing damage for a prolonged period of time is 85 decibels, which means whatever hearing protection is used, it must be rated to block out at least 29 decibels of sound or the addition of earplugs is required.

Safety aside, the next issue to consider is the system's ease of use. Ease of use will determine how much the MR technologists will actually use the sound system. The system may be connected and ready to go, but if the technologist forgets how to use it, or simply does not want to go to the trouble because it is too complicated, the sound system will be underutilized. The headsets or earphone components need to be durable to withstand a high-use imaging center/hospital environment.

Hearing protection, ease of use, durability and customer support are key when selecting a sound system. Make sure to consider these factors.

One of the last things to consider is how the earphones will fit in your existing MR coils and equipment. If your department performs a lot of head and spine scans, an in-ear style headset that fits in a head coil will be required. Again, this headset needs to provide strong sound attenuation, at least 29 decibels, while also being comfortable for the patient. If not adequate, these factors could turn the MR sound system into an expensive paperweight.


It is no secret that the medical industry is moving toward patient comfort as a solution to help the bottom line as well as developing a reputation for superior care. Having a good MR audio system can provide a better MR environment by increasing patient comfort, which allows providers to advertise better customer satisfaction to attract more patients.

October 2017 Magazine

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