AIMBE
ccessibility is a critical dimension of diversity and inclusivity. For neuroimagers, radiographers, radiologists and neurologists, hearing accessibility is of particular importance, whether we are scanning people in the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner or presenting our results at a conference. In this commentary, we outline the importance of hearing accessibility for the clinical and research neuroimaging communities, describe recent developments in improving hearing accessibility in the MRI environment and at conferences, and share the “results” of the accessibility “experiment” presented at the Organisation for Human Brain Mapping (OHBM) Diversity and Inclusivity Committee (DIC) Roundtable in 2025. While this content was initially developed for use by the OHBM community, the goal is to share general information that improves hearing accessibility for the general clinical and research neuroimaging community.
Hearing accessibility in the MRI scanner
In Australia alone,[1] around 30 million MRI scans are performed each year.1,2 While safe, the magnetic resonance (MR) environment can be challenging for the scanned person for a number of reasons, including claustrophobia, the requirement to stay still, and the safety precautions necessary when working in strong magnetic fields. In both the clinic and research settings, communication with the person in the scanner is imperative to ensure compliance with imaging requirements, ensure patient comfort, and improve image quality… Continue reading.
