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Re: Idea to get word out?

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I think I have seen Dear Abby mention medical organizations before in

her columns about various medical conditions... do you think it would

help to mention the AAP's stance on Plagiocephaly treatment and

diagnosis? Here are some excerpts that illustrate how awareness is

lacking because peds aren't following the AAP's recommendations:

http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;112/1/199?fullt\

ext=plagiocephaly & searchid=QID_NOT_SET

" The pediatrician or other primary care clinician should educate

parents as well as other health care professionals, such as those in

newborn care units, on methods to decrease the risk of development of

deformational plagiocephaly. "

" Diagnosis of cranial asymmetry in general, and deformational

plagiocephaly in particular, can be determined on examination at birth

and at each health supervision visit up to 1 year of age. It is

important for the pediatrician or other examiner to look down at the

top of the head, view the position of the ears, and note the position

of the cheekbones (zygomas). "

" An assessment of neck movements also should be made to confirm or

rule out the presence of torticollis. Infants with torticollis have

some limitation of active rotation of their heads away from the

flattened side of the occiput. The rotating chair or stool test is a

procedure to assist in the diagnosis of torticollis associated with

deformational plagiocephaly. The examiner sits on a rotating chair or

stool and holds the infant facing the parent. "

" Management of deformational plagiocephaly involves preventive

counseling of parents, mechanical adjustments, and exercises. Parental

compliance with the management plan is pivotal in lessening the

likelihood and severity of skull deformity. Skull molding helmets are

an option for patients with severe deformity or skull shape that is

refractory to therapeutic physical adjustments and position changes.

Surgery is rarely necessary but may be indicated in severe refractory

cases of deformational plagiocephaly or in patients with

craniosynostosis. "

There are other good nuggets in there. My personal experience was

zero preventive counseling, no proper cranial assessment at

well-visits, and complete ignorance on the part of my ped on

treatment. In fact, no one even mentioned the word plagiocephaly to me.

Good luck with your letter. I think it is a superb awareness idea!!!

Christie (Mom to Repo'd Remy)

> > >

> > > I was reading Dear Abby and thinking about how

> > many

> > > others read her column. Several times people have

> > > written in asking her to get the word out about an

> > > important topic, and she does. What if several of

> > us

> > > wrote a brief letter describing Plagiocephaly (and

> > > Torticollis) and maybe how doctors & insurance are

> > > wrongly thinking of it as " just cosmetic " ? It

> > might

> > > grab her attention enough to run one of them. I'm

> > > tired of reading about how many doctors don't have

> > a

> > > clue about either subject- nor do they seem to

> > think

> > > it's important to learn about them! Every major

> > > newspaper would run it, which might catch THEIR

> > > attention enough to do individual stories.

> > > http://www.dearabby.com

> > >

> > > Audrey

> > > 7 mo, DOC Band 1/23/2006

> > >

> >

>

> __________________________________________________

>

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Guest guest

I think I have seen Dear Abby mention medical organizations before in

her columns about various medical conditions... do you think it would

help to mention the AAP's stance on Plagiocephaly treatment and

diagnosis? Here are some excerpts that illustrate how awareness is

lacking because peds aren't following the AAP's recommendations:

http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;112/1/199?fullt\

ext=plagiocephaly & searchid=QID_NOT_SET

" The pediatrician or other primary care clinician should educate

parents as well as other health care professionals, such as those in

newborn care units, on methods to decrease the risk of development of

deformational plagiocephaly. "

" Diagnosis of cranial asymmetry in general, and deformational

plagiocephaly in particular, can be determined on examination at birth

and at each health supervision visit up to 1 year of age. It is

important for the pediatrician or other examiner to look down at the

top of the head, view the position of the ears, and note the position

of the cheekbones (zygomas). "

" An assessment of neck movements also should be made to confirm or

rule out the presence of torticollis. Infants with torticollis have

some limitation of active rotation of their heads away from the

flattened side of the occiput. The rotating chair or stool test is a

procedure to assist in the diagnosis of torticollis associated with

deformational plagiocephaly. The examiner sits on a rotating chair or

stool and holds the infant facing the parent. "

" Management of deformational plagiocephaly involves preventive

counseling of parents, mechanical adjustments, and exercises. Parental

compliance with the management plan is pivotal in lessening the

likelihood and severity of skull deformity. Skull molding helmets are

an option for patients with severe deformity or skull shape that is

refractory to therapeutic physical adjustments and position changes.

Surgery is rarely necessary but may be indicated in severe refractory

cases of deformational plagiocephaly or in patients with

craniosynostosis. "

There are other good nuggets in there. My personal experience was

zero preventive counseling, no proper cranial assessment at

well-visits, and complete ignorance on the part of my ped on

treatment. In fact, no one even mentioned the word plagiocephaly to me.

Good luck with your letter. I think it is a superb awareness idea!!!

Christie (Mom to Repo'd Remy)

> > >

> > > I was reading Dear Abby and thinking about how

> > many

> > > others read her column. Several times people have

> > > written in asking her to get the word out about an

> > > important topic, and she does. What if several of

> > us

> > > wrote a brief letter describing Plagiocephaly (and

> > > Torticollis) and maybe how doctors & insurance are

> > > wrongly thinking of it as " just cosmetic " ? It

> > might

> > > grab her attention enough to run one of them. I'm

> > > tired of reading about how many doctors don't have

> > a

> > > clue about either subject- nor do they seem to

> > think

> > > it's important to learn about them! Every major

> > > newspaper would run it, which might catch THEIR

> > > attention enough to do individual stories.

> > > http://www.dearabby.com

> > >

> > > Audrey

> > > 7 mo, DOC Band 1/23/2006

> > >

> >

>

> __________________________________________________

>

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