HOW DOES AN ULTRASOUND WORK?

When you arrive for your test in the RADIOLOGY DEPARTMENT, you will be asked to change into a special shirt called a JOHNNY and lie down on a flat bed. Your family can stay with you.

The SONOGRAPHER will put a small amount of gel (a warm cream) on your skin to help the sound waves travel from the TRANSDUCER to your body. Then the SONOGRAPHER slides the TRANDUCER over the part of your body being examined. It might tickle, but it doesn’t hurt at all. The TRANSDUCER “sends out” and “listens” for sound waves. This is what makes pictures on the TV screen. Ask the SONOGRAPHER to show you the different pictures.

When all the pictures are taken, you can get dressed and you and your family can leave.

SPECIAL WORDS

SONOGRAPHER: The friendly person who takes the special pictures of your body with sound waves

TRANSDUCER: A special wand that makes and hears sound waves and can turn them into pictures

ULTRASOUND: A special test using sound waves to learn more about the inside of your body and how they are working

JOHNNY: A special shirt you wear during your test

RADIOLOGY DEPARTMENT: A place in the hospital where ultrasounds are done