Aimee's STARband

[Guest guest]

Hello,

My daughter Aimee went into her STARband in Mid October at 9mos. old

She has been in it for 3 mos. After wearing it for 3 months,

the orthotist has measure that there has been only a 3/8 "

change in her flat side, and no increase onthe other side in head

size. I did not feel bumps and I'm not sure that we're getting the

results that we expected. Since her hair is longer, it is less

noticeable, but the flatness is still there. Is it true that some

kids have to wear the band up to 18mos??

Any advice is appreciated.

Aimee's Mom

[Guest guest]

Aimee,

My daughter started with her helmet at 9 months and wore it until she was 15

1/2 months. Because she started a little later then the ideal age we did not

get 100% correction. We did get some correction and we are happy for that.

Does your orthotist feel that progress is being made or is he also concerned

that the results are not what could be expected? Do you feel that your

daughter has had any big growth spurts in the three months she has been

wearing the band? If she hasn't that could be part of the reason that you

have not seen dramatic results. If she has had a good growth spurt then I

would question the ortho like crazy about why you haven't seen any

significant improvement. I'm sure that there are babies that do wear bands

until 18 months old. At some point your daughter will probably grow out of

her band (more then likely before she reaches 18 months) and you will have to

decide whether or not to reband if there is still some improvement to be had.

Good luck and I'm sorry to hear that you are having these concerns. Please

keep us posted.

Marci (Mom to )

Oklahoma

[Guest guest]

Dear Aimee's Mom-this must be a frustrating time for you and to not see improvement either must be even harder. We used the DOC band and had great success immediately so it is hard for me to comment. Other than the head has Aimee continued to grow since she has been wearing the helmet? If she has then I would think that maybe you would want to get the band reevaluated for a correct fit or maybe another ortho's opinion. That seems like a long time not to see improvement. Do you have before pictures that you can compare them to now to see? I know there are children who have used the helmet as they are older -- but I would think that since she was 9 months when she started and has been in it for 3 months that you should see alittle bit more than that. If you have pictures maybe you can do an eye comparison-which might have a better impact than the actual numbers. Do you feel or see a difference yourself? What was the ortho;s explanation for lack of correction? I hope you see some improvement real soon. Where do you live?

beck Mom to

doc grad

Memphis

[Guest guest]

Hi Marci,

Thank you for your feedback. I am curious, what percent of

correction do you think you got with your daughter, after 15

months? My orthotist expected no more than 50% which he stated

before the band went on, so the results are what he expected, but

reading the other comments from people, its sounds like a lot more

improvement can be obtained. Aimee is now 1 year old, and I am not

even near a DOC band vendor. Also, Aimee has not really had a big

growth spurt that I notices. She wears 12 mos clothes, her feet are

still size 3-1/2, and the band has not seem to have gotten tighter on

her head size. We have a 1 year appt. with her pediatrician tomorrow

and will measure head size then. I've started to have here wear it

only at night, when there is pressure on her head. I have noticed

some improvement, and maybe it is more than the othotist measured,

but sounds very miniscule compared to comments from other parents in

this group. I'm not sure what to do.

(Aimee's Mom)

> Aimee,

>

> My daughter started with her helmet at 9 months and wore it until

she was 15

> 1/2 months. Because she started a little later then the ideal age we

did not

> get 100% correction. We did get some correction and we are happy for

that.

> Does your orthotist feel that progress is being made or is he also

concerned

> that the results are not what could be expected? Do you feel that

your

> daughter has had any big growth spurts in the three months she has

been

> wearing the band? If she hasn't that could be part of the reason

that you

> have not seen dramatic results. If she has had a good growth spurt

then I

> would question the ortho like crazy about why you haven't seen any

> significant improvement. I'm sure that there are babies that do wear

bands

> until 18 months old. At some point your daughter will probably grow

out of

> her band (more then likely before she reaches 18 months) and you

will have to

> decide whether or not to reband if there is still some improvement

to be had.

>

> Good luck and I'm sorry to hear that you are having these concerns.

Please

> keep us posted.

>

> Marci (Mom to )

> Oklahoma

[Guest guest]

,

Your questions are all good ones. actually wore her helmet for 6 1/2

months (from 9 months until 15 1/2 months). I would guess that we got maybe

60% correction. sounds similar to your Aimee. She is a small girl and

did not have any really huge growth spurts during her time in the helmet.

When she finished with her helmet it still fit her for the most part. She had

outgrown it in height rather then in circumference. Why did she graduate at

12 months? If she had not outgrown the band why did she not continue to wear

it? You may have already answered these questions in a previous post - sorry

if I missed the answers!

As far as a second helmet goes, you sure could ask to get a second casting

and a second helmet. She could still experience improvement! I would think

that you would need some sort of statement from your specialist or ped saying

that continuing treatment is necessary in order to get the second band

covered under your insurance.

Good luck and let us know what you decide to do.

Marci (Mom to )

Oklahoma