Re: STARBand - passive or active?/Denver

[Guest guest]

Molly,

Hi! I hope we can be of some help with information about your son's

Starband and facility.

The Starband by Orthomerica is an active band. Their website is

www.orthomerica.com . If you click on the Star Family on the first

page of their website, you can look up the descriptions of all of

the different bands/helmets they offer, and whether they are active

or passive. At 7 months old, Austin should expect to see great

correction in a active band.

There is one instance I know of that the Starband, an active band,

is modified to be a passive band. I heard this from some parents

whose babies go/went to NOPCO in Boston. So far, I haven't heard of

any other facilities using the Starband in a passive manner.

I see that you mentioned Hanger. I don't know of anyone who has

been to Hanger in the Denver area, and we don't even have that

facility listed in the Database, but hopefully someone will see your

subject line and reply if they have been there. When you said that

they seemed inexperienced, did you ask them how inexperienced they

were? What did they tell you when you asked how many bands/helmets

they had done, or what training they had received on the Starband?

Training on the Starband is not a requirement of orthotists who

order the Starband to use (other than what they may have learned in

school.) Orthomerica does offer a training course, which is

voluntary. Did your ortho take such a class? Also, Hanger has

their own brand of band called the Hanger Cranial Band. The Hanger

Cranial Band is FDA approved and active, like the Starband, and it

looks very similar to the Starband. Could Austin maybe be in the

Hanger Cranial Band? Hanger may require or provide training to

their orthos who are using the Hanger Cranial Band, but I'm not

sure, you'll have to ask. I think we have at least two babies here

in the group currently in a Hanger Cranial Band, but I don't think

their going to Hanger in Denver.

As you may already know, Cranial Tech (Docband) has a different

business model. They manufacture their own band, require and

provide extensive training on their band, and provide patient

service at their own facilities.

I think I've provided more questions for you than answers, I'm

sorry! Would you let us know what you find out?--- In

Plagiocephaly , " mollyyi1974 " <mollyyi1974@y...>

wrote:

> My son, Austin, is 7 months old and is flat on the left side. We

> have repositioned him and he is now sleeping on his right side and

> has been for about a month. However, little change has

occurred.

> Therefore, we got his casted for a Starband helmet on the 5th. We

> did this suddenly, as I had been intending to get the DOC band in

> Phoenix, but at the last minute had found a local place to get the

> Starband. Now, I feel a little worried. I had thoroughly

researched

> the DOC band and felt very comfortable. Then, when I heard the

> Starband was local, I quickly called and made an appt. Now, I was

> wondering, does anyone know if Starband offers an active helmet or

do

> they just have the passive one? It seemed as though the people at

> Hanger were very inexperienced. Has anyone else dealt with them?

Are

> there any other members from Denver or from Colorado? I'm just

> worried that Austin will have to wear a helmet for longer than

> necessary. Any advice or ideas would be appreciated.

> Thanks,

> Molly Yi

[Guest guest]

Hi Molly,

I see Christie already answered your question, but I did want to

welcome you to the group. When does Austing get his STARband?

, mom to Hannah, DOC #3 3/30

Cape Cod, Ma

> My son, Austin, is 7 months old and is flat on the left side. We

> have repositioned him and he is now sleeping on his right side and

> has been for about a month. However, little change has

occurred.

> Therefore, we got his casted for a Starband helmet on the 5th. We

> did this suddenly, as I had been intending to get the DOC band in

> Phoenix, but at the last minute had found a local place to get the

> Starband. Now, I feel a little worried. I had thoroughly

researched

> the DOC band and felt very comfortable. Then, when I heard the

> Starband was local, I quickly called and made an appt. Now, I was

> wondering, does anyone know if Starband offers an active helmet or

do

> they just have the passive one? It seemed as though the people at

> Hanger were very inexperienced. Has anyone else dealt with them?

Are

> there any other members from Denver or from Colorado? I'm just

> worried that Austin will have to wear a helmet for longer than

> necessary. Any advice or ideas would be appreciated.

> Thanks,

> Molly Yi

[Guest guest]

Hi Molly,

I just to take a minute and welcome you to the group. I see that

Christie has already answered many of your questions about STARbands,

so I won't repeat it all!!!

My son did also have a STARband and was banded in his 7th month. He

received wonderful correction in the months that he wore his band.

It can take longer for babies Austin's age, but they still do get

really nice correction.

Please keep us posted.

- mom to Aidan

STARgrad 02/04

GR Mi

> My son, Austin, is 7 months old and is flat on the left side. We

> have repositioned him and he is now sleeping on his right side and

> has been for about a month. However, little change has occurred.

> Therefore, we got his casted for a Starband helmet on the 5th. We

> did this suddenly, as I had been intending to get the DOC band in

> Phoenix, but at the last minute had found a local place to get the

> Starband. Now, I feel a little worried. I had thoroughly

researched

> the DOC band and felt very comfortable. Then, when I heard the

> Starband was local, I quickly called and made an appt. Now, I was

> wondering, does anyone know if Starband offers an active helmet or

do

> they just have the passive one? It seemed as though the people at

> Hanger were very inexperienced. Has anyone else dealt with them?

Are

> there any other members from Denver or from Colorado? I'm just

> worried that Austin will have to wear a helmet for longer than

> necessary. Any advice or ideas would be appreciated.

> Thanks,

> Molly Yi

[Guest guest]

It seemed as though the people at

Hanger were very inexperienced.

PLEASE be very careful using this place. These bands in the hands of

an inexperienced ortho can and do cause more harm. Experience is KEY

when treating plagio babies! How many plagio babies has this place

treated?

> My son, Austin, is 7 months old and is flat on the left side. We

> have repositioned him and he is now sleeping on his right side and

> has been for about a month. However, little change has occurred.

> Therefore, we got his casted for a Starband helmet on the 5th. We

> did this suddenly, as I had been intending to get the DOC band in

> Phoenix, but at the last minute had found a local place to get the

> Starband. Now, I feel a little worried. I had thoroughly

researched

> the DOC band and felt very comfortable. Then, when I heard the

> Starband was local, I quickly called and made an appt. Now, I was

> wondering, does anyone know if Starband offers an active helmet or

do

> they just have the passive one? It seemed as though the people at

> Hanger were very inexperienced. Has anyone else dealt with them?

Are

> there any other members from Denver or from Colorado? I'm just

> worried that Austin will have to wear a helmet for longer than

> necessary. Any advice or ideas would be appreciated.

> Thanks,

> Molly Yi

[Guest guest]

Hi Molly & welcome to the group:

I noticed you are in the Denver area & remembered a former member,

, whose daughter Reagan wore a STARband from Denver's Children

Hospital. At that time (early 2003), the mom had researched options

in Denver/CO area and it was very limited. I contacted the parent

yesterday & she gave me Denver Children's Hosp info & her orthotist's

info as well. If you'd like to contact her, I'm sure she'll be more

than happy to help, she replied to me within 30 mins yesterday. Her

daughter rec'd good correction from the STAR at Denver Children's

Hosp - chk out the pics in the PHOTOS " Before &

After " " STARband " " Reagan " .

Here's the info on Denver Childrens Hospital & 's email

address. I'm not at all familiar w/Hanger. If you're uncomfortable

w/them already though, perhaps see about going to Greg Smits at the

Denver Childrens Hospital? Would that be possible?

Debbie

----------------------------------------------------------

Colorado

STARband* 1

056 E. 19th, Denver CO 80218

Greg Smits 303-837-2605 Greg Smits Direct Line or 800-624-6553

Hospital Main #

http://www.thechildrenshospital.org/ (although I couldn't find any

plagio info)

@... (, mom to Reagan, see Reagan's b & a STARband

pics)

------------------------------------------------------------

>

> > My son, Austin, is 7 months old and is flat on the left side. We

> > have repositioned him and he is now sleeping on his right side

and

> > has been for about a month. However, little change has

occurred.

> > Therefore, we got his casted for a Starband helmet on the 5th.

We

> > did this suddenly, as I had been intending to get the DOC band in

> > Phoenix, but at the last minute had found a local place to get

the

> > Starband. Now, I feel a little worried. I had thoroughly

> researched

> > the DOC band and felt very comfortable. Then, when I heard the

> > Starband was local, I quickly called and made an appt. Now, I

was

> > wondering, does anyone know if Starband offers an active helmet

or

> do

> > they just have the passive one? It seemed as though the people

at

> > Hanger were very inexperienced. Has anyone else dealt with them?

> Are

> > there any other members from Denver or from Colorado? I'm just

> > worried that Austin will have to wear a helmet for longer than

> > necessary. Any advice or ideas would be appreciated.

> > Thanks,

> > Molly Yi