CT scans and children: tips for parents

You may have seen coverage recently on CNN Health about the increased number of CT, or computed tomography, scans being ordered by doctors for children.

The number of these scans has risen five-fold over a 14-year period, according to the research.

Radiation levels accumulate over time, so it’s important for parents to think about the risks and benefits of medical imaging. Our experts at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas offer these tips for safer CT scans for your children.

Most importantly, choose pediatric radiology services over adult ones if possible. Children's has staff that specializes in pediatric radiology. They are specifically trained to limit radiation. Children's also uses equipment that's made and calibrated for kids.

• Talk to your pediatrician about the best way to diagnose your child's condition. A CT scan is not always the best choice. Sometimes no imaging at all provides the best medical benefit.


• Ask your physician if it's possible to use a technique that doesn't cause radiation exposure, such as an MRI or ultrasound.


• Try to avoid having your child undergo repeat or duplicate imaging scans. This means keeping close tabs on your child's medical record and the number of scans he or she has had.

We also have tips for X-rays to help parents ask the right questions about these procedures and more information on radiation exposure.

Talking about tragedies

In light of the recent shooting tragedy in Tucson and the one-year anniversary of the Haiti earthquake, parents should be prepared to talk to their children about these events.

In fact, First Lady Michelle Obama has penned an eloquent letter to parents that offers some insights into talking with your children about tragedies such as Tucson.

Pete Stavinoha, Ph.D., a child neuropsychologist at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas, says these events provide a starting point for discussions with your children. But, these are also subjects that could raise anxieties in children who see the images on TV or hear about them on the radio or the Internet, so it is important to monitor their time listening to, watching and interacting with the news.

Tips for talking to children

Stavinoha suggests parents:

• Listen to children and encourage them to ask questions at their own level of understanding. It’s OK to say you don’t know all the answers. It’s also OK not to overwhelm them with information that they may not understand.


• Pay attention to younger children’s play and drawings. They may give you a clue about what they are feeling or what they know about these tragedies. This may provide the opportunity to talk about it and perhaps clarify their questions.


• Don’t downplay the seriousness of the situation. Especially for older children, it is important to acknowledge the significance of the event.


• Model healthy parental coping during stressful times. This does not mean hiding your feelings, but rather staying aware of your reactions and showing your children how you deal with a tragedy in a healthy manner.


• Participate in activities that help put you and your children back in control of the otherwise disturbing situation such as attending prayer services.


• Seek support from family, friends, church or other social and emotional supports.

If your child is old enough, watch news reports or read the news together to encourage conversation about the topic. PBS has age-appropriate guidelines about how much news children should be watching and what they will understand about the news that are helpful.