Re: Long term impacts of banding

[Guest guest]

Hi there!!

There has been some research,(although I'm not sure of the specific

study names or references), of untreated babies and the long term

effects of Plagiocephaly being left UNtreated. When the head is

pushed in, and forward from Plagio, it causes everything on the skull

to be misalligned.

Therefore, the misallignment/asymetry in the ear canal can cause

chronic ear infections, hearing loss, and fluid build-up.

The misallignment/asymetry on the jaw can cause TMJ (lock-jaw),

overbites, underbites, crooked teeth.

The misallignment/asymetry of the eyes can cause vision problems,

depth perception issues, headaches.

The misallignment/asymetry of the skull can possibly cause other

sensitive areas to be smooshed within the skull.

If the skull is off, then most times everything else will be off too.

Some babies suffer from severe asymetry, some are mild enough to not

be noticeable.

I have never heard of a study where it focused on long term effects

from a baby being banded. Seems as if only good can come out of the

band. There would be no harm in re-alligning everything that was

misalligned due to the Plagio. Hopefully somone else can chime in

with an actual reference to an actual study.

whatever your decision, we are always here to support you. best of

luck with your decision. Time is of the essence here, so if you are

prepared to band, the young age is still on your side. We got some

good correction with being banded at 13 months, but his case

was mild/moderate. He was initially banded at 5 months for

moderate/severe plagio. We would have liked to have seen more

correction, so we chose to band him again at 13 months. He graduated

Tuesday, after being banded for 7 weeks/5 days.

kelli

mommy to jacob

banded 12/23/03 - 01/28/04

and again 08/19/04 - 10/12/04

>

> We are considering getting a band or helmet for our 7 1/2 month old

> to correct plagio. However, before we get one, I have been trying

to

> investigate any research or studies done on the long-term impacts

> (especially any complications) of using the helmet or band. So

far,

> no luck in finding anything about long-term impacts (other than

that

> the changes coming from banding seem to " stick " over time)! I've

> been told by some professionals that it can cause issues with her

> neurologic system and immune system. However, the orthotists (from

2

> different places) assure me that this isn't the case. Who do I

> believe? I know that the orthotists have something to gain by our

> baby buying a helmet or band (the revenues for this industry are

> staggering). They say that they don't know of any studies about

long-

> term impacts. But I won't consider the helmet/banding option

without

> checking into any long-term ramifications. Has anyone else checked

> into it? Where can I turn for more information? I'm not just

> looking for a quick fix for now. I want to be certain that this

> won't create issues years from now for our baby. Thanks for

helping

> us!

[Guest guest]

I don't know of any long range studies of banded children but I can

tell you that I have been a member of this board for two years and

besides an occasional poorly fitting band the outcomes are usually

favorable with no side effects. I don't see how a helmet could

cause neurological or immune system problems. I once took my son to

a cranial osteopath (who ended up being a total quack) and he

thought that they restricted the flow of cranial fluid through the

body but my neurologist did not agree. If you want information, go

to plagiocephaly.org, cranialtech.com, and read some past messages

in this group and visit our FILES section. Good luck with your

decision.

Natasha

Atlanta, GA

>

> We are considering getting a band or helmet for our 7 1/2 month

old

> to correct plagio. However, before we get one, I have been trying

to

> investigate any research or studies done on the long-term impacts

> (especially any complications) of using the helmet or band. So

far,

> no luck in finding anything about long-term impacts (other than

that

> the changes coming from banding seem to " stick " over time)! I've

> been told by some professionals that it can cause issues with her

> neurologic system and immune system. However, the orthotists

(from 2

> different places) assure me that this isn't the case. Who do I

> believe? I know that the orthotists have something to gain by our

> baby buying a helmet or band (the revenues for this industry are

> staggering). They say that they don't know of any studies about

long-

> term impacts. But I won't consider the helmet/banding option

without

> checking into any long-term ramifications. Has anyone else

checked

> into it? Where can I turn for more information? I'm not just

> looking for a quick fix for now. I want to be certain that this

> won't create issues years from now for our baby. Thanks for

helping

> us!

[Guest guest]

I understand how you feel, I've been involved with Plagio on the

boards for 5 years and on here we have no reason to be anything

but honest with each other. I have never once heard of any baby

having any brain problems from this. The main problem is people not

being educated enough on this subject and choosing a Orthodist that

isant trained or exsperienced and the baby can get a ill fitting

helmet that can make the Plagio or Bracio worse. My advice is to read

as much as you can and go through the archives on this site and otho

Plagio sites.

Good Luck.

Lorraine.

Mom to Mackenzie 5.

>

> We are considering getting a band or helmet for our 7 1/2 month old

> to correct plagio. However, before we get one, I have been trying

to

> investigate any research or studies done on the long-term impacts

> (especially any complications) of using the helmet or band. So

far,

> no luck in finding anything about long-term impacts (other than

that

> the changes coming from banding seem to " stick " over time)! I've

> been told by some professionals that it can cause issues with her

> neurologic system and immune system. However, the orthotists (from

2

> different places) assure me that this isn't the case. Who do I

> believe? I know that the orthotists have something to gain by our

> baby buying a helmet or band (the revenues for this industry are

> staggering). They say that they don't know of any studies about

long-

> term impacts. But I won't consider the helmet/banding option

without

> checking into any long-term ramifications. Has anyone else checked

> into it? Where can I turn for more information? I'm not just

> looking for a quick fix for now. I want to be certain that this

> won't create issues years from now for our baby. Thanks for

helping

> us!

[Guest guest]

Hello Cheryl

I think your questions, and worries are very valid, but I don't

belive that actual long term studies have been published yet. Most

docs/hospitals are still in these studies. As far as i know the doc

we saw in Germany also keeps up on his patients for the long term,

but of course hasn't published anything yet. He told me that he

follows most his kids till they are 4 or 5. I don't remember the

exact number. He did though tell us that the bands do not restrict

skull, or brain growth in any way, just redirects it.

As far as you not being told about repo from CT might be b/c your

baby is really out of the favorable age to reposition. At 71/2

months growth has slowed down, and it would also become difficult to

repo. I am glad that you found an ortho that you do trust, but do

want to add that CT does not try to sell bands. They are actually

very known to not band when it is not needed. They have done tons

of research on what they are doing, and have exellent training. I

did not use CT as I am in Germany, but was kind of surprised to hear

that you were not given all information.

Please let us know on what you decide to do. I was on vac for the

past month, so I do not even know if you have a boy or a girl, and

your baby's name. )

Sandy Willow's Mom

Torticollis resolved

Cranio Germany Grad

>

> We are considering getting a band or helmet for our 7 1/2 month

old

> to correct plagio. However, before we get one, I have been trying

to

> investigate any research or studies done on the long-term impacts

> (especially any complications) of using the helmet or band. So

far,

> no luck in finding anything about long-term impacts (other than

that

> the changes coming from banding seem to " stick " over time)! I've

> been told by some professionals that it can cause issues with her

> neurologic system and immune system. However, the orthotists

(from 2

> different places) assure me that this isn't the case. Who do I

> believe? I know that the orthotists have something to gain by our

> baby buying a helmet or band (the revenues for this industry are

> staggering). They say that they don't know of any studies about

long-

> term impacts. But I won't consider the helmet/banding option

without

> checking into any long-term ramifications. Has anyone else

checked

> into it? Where can I turn for more information? I'm not just

> looking for a quick fix for now. I want to be certain that this

> won't create issues years from now for our baby. Thanks for

helping

> us!