What helmet to use for brachycephaly

[Guest guest]

Our grandson will be scanned for a helmet on Friday. I have read

numerous post's on the Starband and Doc helmets. Can you tell

me is there any difference in the final correction between the

helmets or does this depend entirely on the orthotist and his

determination on the correction. Also is there some type of

formula that they use and monitor for the correction.

[Guest guest]

HI,

there are a few types of helmets. I know they have scanners for hanger

and starband. I don't think docband scans - they do plaster casting.

If you're already scheduled for a scan you must be working with a

particularl ortho - and they will generally only use a certain band.

if you want a DOCband you have to get it from Cranial Tech

(www.cranialtech.com) - they only have a few locations. STARband and

Hanger bands are available more widely and there are a bunch of other

bands besides these that are less common, but often just as effective.

I think there is a comparison in the Files section of this group of

DOC vs STAR. One difference is that cranial tech does only banding so

their people are generally very well trained. with the other bands

orthos have varying degrees of training. you want to work with an

ortho that has experience banding babies. I think there is also a list

of questions for the ortho in the Files area. Otherwise DOC, STAR and

Hanger bands all work in the same way. they are all active bands which

means they hold the head in the more prominent areas and have room

where the head needs to grow. they are hard plastic outside, the

inside is firm foam which is shaved out at each visit to make room for

growth where needed. DOC bands are a little lighter weight (6 oz vs 8

or 9 for the others).

The experience of the ortho is probably more important than which band

is used. The final results depend on the ortho, but also on how much

growth the baby has while wearing the band (the more the better) and

how severe the problem is.

Good luck with your granchild.

-christine

mom to sydney/10 mo/ starband grad 10-06

>

> Our grandson will be scanned for a helmet on Friday. I have read

> numerous post's on the Starband and Doc helmets. Can you tell

> me is there any difference in the final correction between the

> helmets or does this depend entirely on the orthotist and his

> determination on the correction. Also is there some type of

> formula that they use and monitor for the correction.

>