Re: Twisted band causing ear offset??

August 4, 2006

What do you mean by twisted. We just got the Starband, so I don't

quite understand. Sorry, I am really new to this whole thing. Is

there a differnece between a band and a Helmet?

>

> Does anyone have experience with a twisted band making the ear

offset

> worse?? My son (11 months) has been wearing a StarBand for

> nearly 5 months and while his head is definitely rounding out (down

to

> 6.9 mm from an original 13.8 mm) his ear offset is much worse. At

> first I thought it was my imagination, but at his last scan I

noticed

> his ear offset is now 15 mm from an original 5 mm. (She doesn't

> normally print out those numbers, so I didn't catch it sooner.)

His

> helmet has been twisted the entire time and every time we go back

for

> an adjustment she tries something new to prevent the twist, but

it's

> never really helped. Now I'm worried that the constantly twisted

> helmet has made his head worse. I brought it up again today, but

she

> claimed that the helmet wouldn't be causing the ear offset to

become

> worse and she's never seen it happen before (she's only been doing

this

> about a year). I'm wondering if I should get a second opinion

before

> it's too late. There is a Hangar office closer to my home, but we

> originally chose StarBand because that is what was covered by our

> Kaiser insurance. They covered the first one, but I'd be willing

to

> pay out-of-pocket for a second one if anyone thinks there is a

chance

> it might be correctable. Thanks so much for any advice!

>

August 5, 2006

By twisted I mean it's been rotating the entire time. In the

beginning it used to rotate so much that it would fold his left ear

in half. The orthotist made a few adjustments, but it's always

seemed to push his left ear forward. At the last appointment

she 'solved' the problem by cutting the ear hole larger so that at

least it's not pushing his ear forward, but to my eye the whole

helmet/band still appears to be rotated -- and his head seems to be

growing 'twisted'. (Sorry, I don't know the difference between a

helmet and a band. I think maybe the helmet has a closed top and the

band has an open top. I tend to use the terms interchangeably.)

Thanks,

Sheila

> >

> > Does anyone have experience with a twisted band making the ear

> offset

> > worse?? My son (11 months) has been wearing a StarBand for

> > nearly 5 months and while his head is definitely rounding out

(down

> to

> > 6.9 mm from an original 13.8 mm) his ear offset is much worse.

At

> > first I thought it was my imagination, but at his last scan I

> noticed

> > his ear offset is now 15 mm from an original 5 mm. (She doesn't

> > normally print out those numbers, so I didn't catch it sooner.)

> His

> > helmet has been twisted the entire time and every time we go back

> for

> > an adjustment she tries something new to prevent the twist, but

> it's

> > never really helped. Now I'm worried that the constantly twisted

> > helmet has made his head worse. I brought it up again today, but

> she

> > claimed that the helmet wouldn't be causing the ear offset to

> become

> > worse and she's never seen it happen before (she's only been

doing

> this

> > about a year). I'm wondering if I should get a second opinion

> before

> > it's too late. There is a Hangar office closer to my home, but

we

> > originally chose StarBand because that is what was covered by our

> > Kaiser insurance. They covered the first one, but I'd be willing

> to

> > pay out-of-pocket for a second one if anyone thinks there is a

> chance

> > it might be correctable. Thanks so much for any advice!

> >

>

August 5, 2006

Rotation is normal but usually no more then 1/4 to 1/2 inch or so.

Do his ears look off to you? 15 mm is alot for ears, perhaps the

scan was off.

Natasha

>

> Does anyone have experience with a twisted band making the ear

offset

> worse?? My son (11 months) has been wearing a StarBand for

> nearly 5 months and while his head is definitely rounding out

(down to

> 6.9 mm from an original 13.8 mm) his ear offset is much worse. At

> first I thought it was my imagination, but at his last scan I

noticed

> his ear offset is now 15 mm from an original 5 mm. (She doesn't

> normally print out those numbers, so I didn't catch it sooner.)

His

> helmet has been twisted the entire time and every time we go back

for

> an adjustment she tries something new to prevent the twist, but

it's

> never really helped. Now I'm worried that the constantly twisted

> helmet has made his head worse. I brought it up again today, but

she

> claimed that the helmet wouldn't be causing the ear offset to

become

> worse and she's never seen it happen before (she's only been doing

this

> about a year). I'm wondering if I should get a second opinion

before

> it's too late. There is a Hangar office closer to my home, but we

> originally chose StarBand because that is what was covered by our

> Kaiser insurance. They covered the first one, but I'd be willing

to

> pay out-of-pocket for a second one if anyone thinks there is a

chance

> it might be correctable. Thanks so much for any advice!

>

August 5, 2006

His ears look VERY off to me which is what concerns me. I noticed it

a few months ago, but kept telling myself I was only noticing it now

since the back of his head was rounding out so nicely. It wasn't

until the scan report also showed a worsening that I had some

confirmation that it wasn't 'all in my head'. The orthotist agreed

that his ears do in fact look misaligned (and the scans for the last

several visits confirmed it), but she shrugged it off and said she's

never seen that happen before. She said that usually when the plates

of the head round out the ears follow. She also didn't offer any

encouragement that it would improve if he continues to wear the band

which is what really worries me. I asked about the possibility of a

new band (because I think this one will probably NEVER sit straight)

and she said she didn't think my insurance (Kaiser) would cover the

cost of a new band since his asymmetry is down to 6.9mm and there's

no evidence that banding improves ear alignment. At this point I'm

willing to cover the cost of a new band myself if anyone thinks it

will help and that 12 months isn't too late to start. (I'm getting

very nervous about continuing with the existing band...) There is a

Hanger provider near my home as well as another STARband provider

(with an orthotist with a lot more experience) about an hour and a

half away.

> >

> > Does anyone have experience with a twisted band making the ear

> offset

> > worse?? My son (11 months) has been wearing a StarBand for

> > nearly 5 months and while his head is definitely rounding out

> (down to

> > 6.9 mm from an original 13.8 mm) his ear offset is much worse.

At

> > first I thought it was my imagination, but at his last scan I

> noticed

> > his ear offset is now 15 mm from an original 5 mm. (She doesn't

> > normally print out those numbers, so I didn't catch it sooner.)

> His

> > helmet has been twisted the entire time and every time we go back

> for

> > an adjustment she tries something new to prevent the twist, but

> it's

> > never really helped. Now I'm worried that the constantly twisted

> > helmet has made his head worse. I brought it up again today, but

> she

> > claimed that the helmet wouldn't be causing the ear offset to

> become

> > worse and she's never seen it happen before (she's only been

doing

> this

> > about a year). I'm wondering if I should get a second opinion

> before

> > it's too late. There is a Hangar office closer to my home, but

we

> > originally chose StarBand because that is what was covered by our

> > Kaiser insurance. They covered the first one, but I'd be willing

> to

> > pay out-of-pocket for a second one if anyone thinks there is a

> chance

> > it might be correctable. Thanks so much for any advice!

> >

>

August 5, 2006

Ok, that pisses me off! If the band hasn't been sitting right then

why should YOU have to pay for another?? Why wouldn't THEY replace

it for free?? Where do you live?

Natasha

> > >

> > > Does anyone have experience with a twisted band making the ear

> > offset

> > > worse?? My son (11 months) has been wearing a StarBand

for

> > > nearly 5 months and while his head is definitely rounding out

> > (down to

> > > 6.9 mm from an original 13.8 mm) his ear offset is much

worse.

> At

> > > first I thought it was my imagination, but at his last scan I

> > noticed

> > > his ear offset is now 15 mm from an original 5 mm. (She

doesn't

> > > normally print out those numbers, so I didn't catch it

sooner.)

> > His

> > > helmet has been twisted the entire time and every time we go

back

> > for

> > > an adjustment she tries something new to prevent the twist,

but

> > it's

> > > never really helped. Now I'm worried that the constantly

twisted

> > > helmet has made his head worse. I brought it up again today,

but

> > she

> > > claimed that the helmet wouldn't be causing the ear offset to

> > become

> > > worse and she's never seen it happen before (she's only been

> doing

> > this

> > > about a year). I'm wondering if I should get a second

opinion

> > before

> > > it's too late. There is a Hangar office closer to my home,

but

> we

> > > originally chose StarBand because that is what was covered by

our

> > > Kaiser insurance. They covered the first one, but I'd be

willing

> > to

> > > pay out-of-pocket for a second one if anyone thinks there is a

> > chance

> > > it might be correctable. Thanks so much for any advice!

> > >

> >

>

August 5, 2006

I live north of San Francisco and have been going to Oakland for our

adjustments. There is another STARband provider (same company) in

Palo Alto (to the south of San Francisco) that I'm hoping will see me

to give me a second opinion. (It's killing me that this all came up

on a Friday and now I have to wait all weekend to make my phone

calls...) I'm hoping that they agree with me that the rotation could

have caused the ear offset. The orthotist didn't seem to think the

band could have caused the problem since there has always been 'room

to grow' in all the right places. The orthotist we see is very nice,

so I hated to push her on the issue of having them provide a new band

for free without a second educated opinion, but now I'm wishing I'd

followed my original gut instinct and demanded more correction for

the rotation in the first place. She never seemed that concerned

with it, so neither was I although it always nagged at me. Now I'm

just hoping my son doesn't have to pay the price for having a mom who

is too 'nice' and didn't demand more for him early on.

> > > >

> > > > Does anyone have experience with a twisted band making the

ear

> > > offset

> > > > worse?? My son (11 months) has been wearing a StarBand

> for

> > > > nearly 5 months and while his head is definitely rounding out

> > > (down to

> > > > 6.9 mm from an original 13.8 mm) his ear offset is much

> worse.

> > At

> > > > first I thought it was my imagination, but at his last scan I

> > > noticed

> > > > his ear offset is now 15 mm from an original 5 mm. (She

> doesn't

> > > > normally print out those numbers, so I didn't catch it

> sooner.)

> > > His

> > > > helmet has been twisted the entire time and every time we go

> back

> > > for

> > > > an adjustment she tries something new to prevent the twist,

> but

> > > it's

> > > > never really helped. Now I'm worried that the constantly

> twisted

> > > > helmet has made his head worse. I brought it up again today,

> but

> > > she

> > > > claimed that the helmet wouldn't be causing the ear offset to

> > > become

> > > > worse and she's never seen it happen before (she's only been

> > doing

> > > this

> > > > about a year). I'm wondering if I should get a second

> opinion

> > > before

> > > > it's too late. There is a Hangar office closer to my home,

> but

> > we

> > > > originally chose StarBand because that is what was covered by

> our

> > > > Kaiser insurance. They covered the first one, but I'd be

> willing

> > > to

> > > > pay out-of-pocket for a second one if anyone thinks there is

a

> > > chance

> > > > it might be correctable. Thanks so much for any advice!

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

August 5, 2006

I'm so sorry. I hope you can get a second opinion soon.

Natasha

> > > > >

> > > > > Does anyone have experience with a twisted band making the

> ear

> > > > offset

> > > > > worse?? My son (11 months) has been wearing a

StarBand

> > for

> > > > > nearly 5 months and while his head is definitely rounding

out

> > > > (down to

> > > > > 6.9 mm from an original 13.8 mm) his ear offset is much

> > worse.

> > > At

> > > > > first I thought it was my imagination, but at his last

scan I

> > > > noticed

> > > > > his ear offset is now 15 mm from an original 5 mm. (She

> > doesn't

> > > > > normally print out those numbers, so I didn't catch it

> > sooner.)

> > > > His

> > > > > helmet has been twisted the entire time and every time we

go

> > back

> > > > for

> > > > > an adjustment she tries something new to prevent the

twist,

> > but

> > > > it's

> > > > > never really helped. Now I'm worried that the constantly

> > twisted

> > > > > helmet has made his head worse. I brought it up again

today,

> > but

> > > > she

> > > > > claimed that the helmet wouldn't be causing the ear offset

to

> > > > become

> > > > > worse and she's never seen it happen before (she's only

been

> > > doing

> > > > this

> > > > > about a year). I'm wondering if I should get a second

> > opinion

> > > > before

> > > > > it's too late. There is a Hangar office closer to my

home,

> > but

> > > we

> > > > > originally chose StarBand because that is what was covered

by

> > our

> > > > > Kaiser insurance. They covered the first one, but I'd be

> > willing

> > > > to

> > > > > pay out-of-pocket for a second one if anyone thinks there

is

> a

> > > > chance

> > > > > it might be correctable. Thanks so much for any advice!

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

August 5, 2006

Hi, we go to the CIRS office in Palo Alto. There are 2 orthos - bob

and amy. I think bob has been doing bands for a long time. He seems to

know what he is doing. Amy did our initial scan and seemed

knowlegeable for we've ended up Bob for all our fittings. My daughter

has brachy. We haven't had any problem with rotation. I think you

should come to PA for a second opinion. I wouldn't expect his ears to

get worse in a band. I would expect them to get better or at least

stay the same. If the band is the problem with your baby's ears they

should cover the cost of a new band.

We also have Kaiser and see Dr Menard in Santa Clara (cranio facial

plastic surgeon). I think if you don't get a good answer from CIRS you

should request an appointment with him about your son's ears.

Good luck.

-christine

mom to sydney/7mo/starband 5-31-06

> > > > >

> > > > > Does anyone have experience with a twisted band making the

> ear

> > > > offset

> > > > > worse?? My son (11 months) has been wearing a StarBand

> > for

> > > > > nearly 5 months and while his head is definitely rounding out

> > > > (down to

> > > > > 6.9 mm from an original 13.8 mm) his ear offset is much

> > worse.

> > > At

> > > > > first I thought it was my imagination, but at his last scan I

> > > > noticed

> > > > > his ear offset is now 15 mm from an original 5 mm. (She

> > doesn't

> > > > > normally print out those numbers, so I didn't catch it

> > sooner.)

> > > > His

> > > > > helmet has been twisted the entire time and every time we go

> > back

> > > > for

> > > > > an adjustment she tries something new to prevent the twist,

> > but

> > > > it's

> > > > > never really helped. Now I'm worried that the constantly

> > twisted

> > > > > helmet has made his head worse. I brought it up again today,

> > but

> > > > she

> > > > > claimed that the helmet wouldn't be causing the ear offset to

> > > > become

> > > > > worse and she's never seen it happen before (she's only been

> > > doing

> > > > this

> > > > > about a year). I'm wondering if I should get a second

> > opinion

> > > > before

> > > > > it's too late. There is a Hangar office closer to my home,

> > but

> > > we

> > > > > originally chose StarBand because that is what was covered by

> > our

> > > > > Kaiser insurance. They covered the first one, but I'd be

> > willing

> > > > to

> > > > > pay out-of-pocket for a second one if anyone thinks there is

> a

> > > > chance

> > > > > it might be correctable. Thanks so much for any advice!

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

August 5, 2006

Lucas had a Starband. We were given a

second one for FREE. I don’t know if it was the office we were using or

because of Orthomerica but for whatever reason we had a second one. He got his

second band at 11 months and wore it till he was 16 months. I would call

Orthomerica. It can not hurt. I went through a similar situation with Lucas. I

know it is frustrating but hang in there!! Follow your mommy instincts. Remember

you are doing a GREAT job!

Thanks and have a great day,

aleyfamily@...

From: Plagiocephaly [mailto:Plagiocephaly ] On Behalf Of lotspeis

Sent: Saturday, August 05, 2006

10:47 PM

Plagiocephaly

Subject: Re: Twisted band

causing ear offset??

I live north of San Francisco

and have been going to Oakland

for our