Guest guest Posted April 17, 2004 Report Share Posted April 17, 2004 I'm new to this group and I'm so happy to have found it! My daughter, now 15 months old, was recently diagnosed with Plagiocephaly. Of course we noticed it long ago but were told it would shape itself out, as I'm sure many of you were told too. Anyway, we've decided to go ahead and get a helmet for our daughter, despite her older age. I've been told that though she'll have to wear it for a longer time we may see some postive results. The decision we now have to make is to get the starband or doc band. I've heard good things about the doc band but they're much more expensive and 350 miles away. The cranio/facial specialist I saw here in Mount Pleasant, SC doesn't think too much of the docband folks and thinks I'd be just as well off with starband, which I can have fitted here in town and costs less. I would love to hear from anyone out there who a) has an older baby who was fitted with a helmet, and what peoples experiences have been with starband vs. docband. Thanks so much! Naydu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 17, 2004 Report Share Posted April 17, 2004 Naydu, Hi!! We just moved from Mt. P to CA, so I had to reply to your message. We miss it so much!!!!!!!!!! Anyway, we have a 7mo. old that we are deciding whether to band or not. We are going with the DOC band because it seems to be our best option here. However, we have friends on Island who drive to Cranial Tech. in Charlotte. They have only said really positive things about their experiences so far. The drive is awful, though, so I imagine that would weigh into your decision. The worst part for them is now after the initial fittings, etc. their appointments only last 15 min. or so about every couple of weeks. A long drive for such short appointments!! Where could you get the starband?? I will have to ask my friends why they didn't do that next time I talk with them. Best of luck with your decision. Enjoy Mt. P for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! > I'm new to this group and I'm so happy to have found it! > My daughter, now 15 months old, was recently diagnosed with > Plagiocephaly. Of course we noticed it long ago but were told it > would shape itself out, as I'm sure many of you were told too. > Anyway, we've decided to go ahead and get a helmet for our daughter, > despite her older age. I've been told that though she'll have to > wear it for a longer time we may see some postive results. The > decision we now have to make is to get the starband or doc band. > I've heard good things about the doc band but they're much more > expensive and 350 miles away. The cranio/facial specialist I saw > here in Mount Pleasant, SC doesn't think too much of the docband > folks and thinks I'd be just as well off with starband, which I can > have fitted here in town and costs less. I would love to hear from > anyone out there who a) has an older baby who was fitted with a > helmet, and what peoples experiences have been with starband vs. > docband. > > Thanks so much! > Naydu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 18, 2004 Report Share Posted April 18, 2004 Hi Naydu, Welcome to the group. I see you've already received replies from some of the other moderators so I'll just mention that my son wasn't banded until 12 months of age. He wore a DOCband and we were pleased with the professionalism of Cranial Tech. Please make your decision right away as time is so very crucial at this point. Good luck and please keep us posted. Natasha Atlanta, GA > I'm new to this group and I'm so happy to have found it! > My daughter, now 15 months old, was recently diagnosed with > Plagiocephaly. Of course we noticed it long ago but were told it > would shape itself out, as I'm sure many of you were told too. > Anyway, we've decided to go ahead and get a helmet for our daughter, > despite her older age. I've been told that though she'll have to > wear it for a longer time we may see some postive results. The > decision we now have to make is to get the starband or doc band. > I've heard good things about the doc band but they're much more > expensive and 350 miles away. The cranio/facial specialist I saw > here in Mount Pleasant, SC doesn't think too much of the docband > folks and thinks I'd be just as well off with starband, which I can > have fitted here in town and costs less. I would love to hear from > anyone out there who a) has an older baby who was fitted with a > helmet, and what peoples experiences have been with starband vs. > docband. > > Thanks so much! > Naydu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 18, 2004 Report Share Posted April 18, 2004 Naydu, Welcome to the group! We have had many older babies receive correction with active, FDA-approved bands such as the Docband and Starband, so you are evaluating some good options! Although I have no experience with banding (we used repositioning only to treat our daughter Remy's plagio), I have read that the Starband's treatment age range usually goes up to 18 months. If that is the case at the Starband facility you are considering, then your daughter may only get 2 months or so in that band. Why don't you ask them how long they would be able to keep your daughter in the Starband for treatment when you interview them? Also, there is a list of " Questions for the Orthotist " you may want to reference when you speak to either location. There is a link to these questions in the LINKS/HELMETS AND BANDS folder here at the group site. Since Orthomerica, maker of the Starband, does not require Starband training of the orthotist who order and treat with their product (the same business model as many other helmets and bands), you will want to ask about training and experience as well. In some cases the Docband can be used up until 24 months of age. It may be a good idea to bring up your daughter's age when you speak with the DOCband orthos to explore this option. At her age, as you mentioned, your daughter may be need to be in a band longer to glean some good results. Cranial Tech, maker of the Docband, does implement extensive, required Docband training of it's orthos, who provide the product at their own Cranial Tech facilities. In addition, you may also want to interview them to hear about the degree of training and experience. I have heard that the DOCband is generally more expensive than the Starband, but sometimes are about the same price, so you'll definitely have to ask! Would you keep us posted on how your decision process is going? Take care, Christie (Mom to Repo'd Remy) > I'm new to this group and I'm so happy to have found it! > My daughter, now 15 months old, was recently diagnosed with > Plagiocephaly. Of course we noticed it long ago but were told it > would shape itself out, as I'm sure many of you were told too. > Anyway, we've decided to go ahead and get a helmet for our daughter, > despite her older age. I've been told that though she'll have to > wear it for a longer time we may see some postive results. The > decision we now have to make is to get the starband or doc band. > I've heard good things about the doc band but they're much more > expensive and 350 miles away. The cranio/facial specialist I saw > here in Mount Pleasant, SC doesn't think too much of the docband > folks and thinks I'd be just as well off with starband, which I can > have fitted here in town and costs less. I would love to hear from > anyone out there who a) has an older baby who was fitted with a > helmet, and what peoples experiences have been with starband vs. > docband. > > Thanks so much! > Naydu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 18, 2004 Report Share Posted April 18, 2004 Hi Naydu, I'm the , who replied to your post on the Cranial Tech. website about older babies starting treatment. I'm glad to hear you have a casting appointment with Cranial Tech. soon. I don't know very much about the StarBand, only what I've read here and at the CT website. I've noticed you've already received great advice and references to files and photos, that should help you in your decision. I can only tell you our experience with the DOC Band, since that is what we're familiar with. I'm puzzled by your doctor's non-support of the DOC Band specialists; did he say why? I may be repeating my previous CT post, but just wanted to tell you and others, we are very pleased with the changes we're seeing so far with the DOC Band. Our daughter was 11 1/2 months old when she was first fitted. (Like you and many others, we were concerned early on, but had trusted our pediatrician, when told things would round out on their own). Our daughter is 13 1/2 months old now and has had her band for 8 weeks. The staff at Cranial Tech. in Charlotte are really good and I believe they genuinely care. They have been specially trained in band treatment and continue to train at their headquarters in Arizona. As someone else mentioned, they treat babies up to 24 months and StarBand treats up to 18 months. If this is the case, I would definitely consider the DOC Band, so you have the possibility of benefits from a second band, if your neurosurgeon recommends it after the first one. We live in the Upstate of SC, north of Greenville. It is only a 2 hour 15 minute drive for us to the Charlotte Cranial Tech. I understand you may have a longer commute and I've heard that sometimes Angel Flight (medical helicopter) will fly people to their medical appointments for free, depending on the distance/need. If you decide to drive four hours (from Mt. Pleasant to Columbia to Charlotte), perhaps you can make many of your appts. on Fridays and do some site-seeing afterwards, then come home Saturday. After the first few appts.(casting/fitting/first band check),your regular appts. will probably be every two weeks, like ours. Keep us posted on how things go. Best wishes, > I'm new to this group and I'm so happy to have found it! > My daughter, now 15 months old, was recently diagnosed with > Plagiocephaly. Of course we noticed it long ago but were told it > would shape itself out, as I'm sure many of you were told too. > Anyway, we've decided to go ahead and get a helmet for our daughter, > despite her older age. I've been told that though she'll have to > wear it for a longer time we may see some postive results. The > decision we now have to make is to get the starband or doc band. > I've heard good things about the doc band but they're much more > expensive and 350 miles away. The cranio/facial specialist I saw > here in Mount Pleasant, SC doesn't think too much of the docband > folks and thinks I'd be just as well off with starband, which I can > have fitted here in town and costs less. I would love to hear from > anyone out there who a) has an older baby who was fitted with a > helmet, and what peoples experiences have been with starband vs. > docband. > > Thanks so much! > Naydu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.