Re: Doc Band Vs. Molding Helmet

[Guest guest]

I echo your comments. Our helmet applies pressure to bulging areas,

allows room for growth of flat areas, was made specifically for my

son, and most importantly, it is working!

I've said it before and I'll say it again, when decided what kind of

treatment to pursue, there are so many factors to consider. As

parents, we have to do all the research we can and then, in the end,

go with what is comfortable for us.

Sharon & Evan (11-22-99)

>I usually just read the posts, but I thought I would make a comment.

>There seems to be alot of difference of opinions in regard to the

>treatment each of our children has been getting. The point is that

>if it helps them in the end, that is the best treatment they could

>receive.

>

>Your description of the " Doc " band was very close to the description

>that I would use to describe our molding helmet. The " helmet " allows

>pressure to be applied to the bulge on the forehead, and leaves open

>space in the helmet for the flat spot to grow into.

>

>I saw dramatic changes in the shape of my sons head in less than a

>week and a half. We go for adjustments, if needed, every two weeks.

>The treatment should be completed in another 6 weeks. A total of 12

>weeks. That is quite a bit less time than the comments I have heard.

>

>The comment that the " Doc " band is made just for your child is infact

>the same for molding helmets. I am impressed with the progress that

>my son has made with the helmet, and the cost was amazingly less too.

>

>The important issue here is that if the treatment is effective, then

>our children are being helped.

>

>> Hi:

>>

>> Yes, the difference between the DOC band and a helmet is that the

>DOC band

>> puts pressure (no more so than laying on a firm mattress, though)

>on the

>> areas that need to recede and leaves room for the head to shape

>itself in

>> the " flat " areas.

>>

>> They are both good ways of treating plagio -- though because you

>are waiting

>> for the head to grow into the helmet, it does take longer before

>changes

>> begin to happen. The DOC band usually has adjustments every week

>if the

>> child is less than 6/7 months old -- and every two weeks for 6/ 7

>months and

>> older (depending on the clinic and the circumstance). Children who

>are

>> younger may grow out of their first band, which is frustrating and

>> expensive -- however, treatment is usually completed in about 4

>months

>> (sometimes less sometimes more, depending on the severity of the

>head shape)

>>

>> And adjustments for helmets vary greatly -- we've had parents here

>who were

>> told to come back in 2 months for their adjustment. Personally,

>that is a

>> bit long for me.

>>

>> The DOC band is made only for your child -- if you look at the

>pictures on

>> the cranial tech site, you won't see two bands exactly alike. They

>make

>> three different type bands, for plagiocephalic (asymmetrical shape),

>> scaphocephalic (long and narrow shape), and brachocephalic (tall

>and wide,

>> and usually completely flat back).

>>

>> There is another band out there now called the Starband, I do not

>know if

>> they offer more than one type of band. Supposedly they are very

>similar

>> with the DOC band. I do not know how the product works, but a

>couple of

>> people on the board have it and seem to be quite pleased with it.

>>

>> In our case, a traditional helmet would not have worked -- and no

>doctor

>> told me about the product, I happened across the Cranial

>Technologies site

>> when I researching what I could do to help my son. Drs. pretty

>much told me

>> that my son had a big head, and that hair would cover his

>protuberance

>> (yeah, maybe if he was a girl -- but certainly not the way boys

>usually wear

>> their hair!) I have been very pleased with the changes, and the

>process in

>> general, but it's not a product for all people...just like any

>product out

>> there is not meant for every one.

>>

>> I'm sure others will have more to say.

>>

>> Good luck to you.

>> H.

> >

>>

>> -----Original Message-----

>> From: mwalker4@m... [mailto:mwalker4@m...]

>> Sent: Saturday, October 14, 2000 9:50 AM

>> Plagiocephalyegroups

>> Subject: Doc Band Vs. Molding Helmet

>>

>>

>> I'm noticiing that most parents on this site are utilizing the DOC

>> band or similar product and until yesterday I did not realize that

>> there was a difference between the DOC band and my son's helmet. I

>> was informed by the Director of Prosthetics at Children's that the

>> DOC band asserts pressure to the head? Is this true? I'm trying to

>> gather all information possible so that we can provide the best

>> possible care and outcome for our son, Mattie. He has been in his

>> helmet for 3 weeks. It covers his entire head, but d/n assert

>> pressure anywhere. It's fairly " loose " . I was told that this

>helmet

>> will just provide a rounded surface for his head to eventually grow

>> into. We go every 3 wks for an adjustment. Anyone else have a

>> similar experience?

>>

>>

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