Re: Too late to start at 15-16 months?

May 7, 2008

It is not too late, but I would definitely go with CT/Docband vs

another band, if possible. From my knowledge (in this group) they have

the most experience with older babies. One of the moderators, ,

started at 17 mo, and her son is doing well. Most likely she'll reply

to your post too.

You would have to stay in CA for several months (or fly a lot) if you

do decide to treat. the band needs to be adjusted about every two weeks.

-christine

sydney starband grad

>

> Hi,

>

> I'm a father of a 15-month old daughter who has a slight positional

> plagio on the right side at the back of her head. My local

> craniofacial surgery specialist in Singapore said it is now too late

> to be doing helmet treatment and snickered when i said i'm

> considering even going to California to try the DOC band for my

> child. He said the manufacturers can say whatever they want just to

> make a buck.

> Obviously this doc was unsympathetic and cynical with the cranial

> helmet treatment, though he still gave us a referral letter to a

> local orthotist, which i'm not sure if they'll do a proper job in

> creating the helmet. So, the prospect of us getting the DOC band in

> the US is something i still consider.

>

> I'm wondering if someone who started late can share their experience?

> Appreciate any info..

>

> Thanks,

>

> Anxious dad

>

May 7, 2008

Welcome!

My son received his DOCBand at 17 months old and I would say it's

definitely worth it. Of course, you have to go into it realistically

that the results will not be nearly as dramatic as if you had done

it a year ago. But we have seen change and it has definitely made

the whole process worth it. If going to CA is a real possibility for

you, I would definitely go to CT for the DOCBand. They have a lot of

experience with older babies. We bypassed a local STARBand ortho to

drive 3 hours to Charlotte for the DOCBand. I know that's not as

dramatic as a flight from Singapore to CA, but if you're going to do

it at this late stage, and you're willing, I would put my faith in

the most experienced band provider. A few weeks ago I would have

said getting ANY band would be better than not getting one at all,

but I've come to learn that a badly made or badly used band can make

things worse and just be a far greater hassle than you have already

been dealing with. You mention that the plagio is " slight. " Does

your daughter have any forehead bossing or ear asymmetry?

Also, just keep in mind that you need a prescription for the band in

the States. Not sure if your doc in Singapore can write one, or how

that works, but just something to think about if you weren't aware

of it.

Please let me know if you have any questions. Good luck!

Jake-20m (tort resolved/rt plagio/DOCBand)

Jordan-4

>

> Hi,

>

> I'm a father of a 15-month old daughter who has a slight

positional

> plagio on the right side at the back of her head. My local

> craniofacial surgery specialist in Singapore said it is now too

late

> to be doing helmet treatment and snickered when i said i'm

> considering even going to California to try the DOC band for my

> child. He said the manufacturers can say whatever they want just

to

> make a buck.

> Obviously this doc was unsympathetic and cynical with the cranial

> helmet treatment, though he still gave us a referral letter to a

> local orthotist, which i'm not sure if they'll do a proper job in

> creating the helmet. So, the prospect of us getting the DOC band

in

> the US is something i still consider.

>

> I'm wondering if someone who started late can share their

experience?

> Appreciate any info..

>

> Thanks,

>

> Anxious dad

>

May 7, 2008

Hi ,

Yes, my daughter seem to have a slight bossing on her forehead and has

ear asymmetry. Here's a pic of her in our baby blog:

http://www.katejustine.blogspot.com

Let me know what you think..

I already have a recommendation from our doc to a local occupational

therapist who makes cranial helmets. But like i said, the specialist

we went to was just plain, cynical, dismissive and rude on the way he

responded when i mentioned about cranial helmets. He's the type i

guess who'd rather suggest surgery than try out this band. The reality

is, if we go ahead with the local orthotist, we'll still be back with

this doc for him to check the progress.. a thought which we dread

(eventhough he's the head of a craniofacial surgery dept in a local

hospital).

I'm actually in contact with a person from Cranialtech and she says my

doc's letter might do.

We're just now trying to arrange the logistics as to how soon we can

go to the US, most likely in Pasadena, since my wife has relatives

there, one living just 1km away from the Cranialtech clinic.

regards,

the anxious dad.

> >

> > Hi,

> >

> > I'm a father of a 15-month old daughter who has a slight

> positional

> > plagio on the right side at the back of her head. My local

> > craniofacial surgery specialist in Singapore said it is now too

> late

> > to be doing helmet treatment and snickered when i said i'm

> > considering even going to California to try the DOC band for my

> > child. He said the manufacturers can say whatever they want just

> to

> > make a buck.

> > Obviously this doc was unsympathetic and cynical with the cranial

> > helmet treatment, though he still gave us a referral letter to a

> > local orthotist, which i'm not sure if they'll do a proper job in

> > creating the helmet. So, the prospect of us getting the DOC band

> in

> > the US is something i still consider.

> >

> > I'm wondering if someone who started late can share their

> experience?

> > Appreciate any info..

> >

> > Thanks,

> >

> > Anxious dad

> >

>

May 7, 2008

This is sooo infuriating to be treated by our medical professionals

as you are. I feel your pain. My grandson was in a Starband from

appr. age 7 months to 12 months with some pretty good results, but

far from looking right (he was severe to start with). He then

received his second Starband in November 07 (age 1), which turned out

to be a completely ill fit, no correction whatsoever. The Clinician

told us in January " that is all you can expect at his age, just comb

his hair this way and that, just don't give him a short haircut.... " ,

you get the idea. Well, it just kept bugging me to no end, so in

March I contacted Cranial Technologies in Chicago (300 miles from

here). I posted his pictures and they readily agreed that he could

benefit from the DOC band. He was 'casted' on the 31st of March,

fitted on the 14th of April, went back for his first checkup on the

21st of April and just had his 3week appointment on the 6 May. And

GUESS WHAT - great improvement already. Just listen to your gut

feeling and do what you think is right. He was born on November 18,

2006, so he was 17 months old when he received his band on the 14th

of April!!!

Good luck to you,

Heidrun

Aiden's proud Grandma -

-- In Plagiocephaly , " Christian Inton "

<chrisinton@...> wrote:

>

> Hi,

>

> I'm a father of a 15-month old daughter who has a slight positional

> plagio on the right side at the back of her head. My local

> craniofacial surgery specialist in Singapore said it is now too

late

> to be doing helmet treatment and snickered when i said i'm

> considering even going to California to try the DOC band for my

> child. He said the manufacturers can say whatever they want just to

> make a buck.

> Obviously this doc was unsympathetic and cynical with the cranial

> helmet treatment, though he still gave us a referral letter to a

> local orthotist, which i'm not sure if they'll do a proper job in

> creating the helmet. So, the prospect of us getting the DOC band in

> the US is something i still consider.

>

> I'm wondering if someone who started late can share their

experience?

> Appreciate any info..

>

> Thanks,

>

> Anxious dad

>

May 7, 2008

Hi Chris.......I am just curious what part of the country you are

located in. I think at your dd's age you should really think twice

about going to somplace like the specialist suggested.

Becky, repo moderator

, repo grad

> > >

> > > Hi,

> > >

> > > I'm a father of a 15-month old daughter who has a slight

> > positional

> > > plagio on the right side at the back of her head. My local

> > > craniofacial surgery specialist in Singapore said it is now too

> > late

> > > to be doing helmet treatment and snickered when i said i'm

> > > considering even going to California to try the DOC band for my

> > > child. He said the manufacturers can say whatever they want

just

> > to

> > > make a buck.

> > > Obviously this doc was unsympathetic and cynical with the

cranial

> > > helmet treatment, though he still gave us a referral letter to

a

> > > local orthotist, which i'm not sure if they'll do a proper job

in

> > > creating the helmet. So, the prospect of us getting the DOC

band

> > in

> > > the US is something i still consider.

> > >

> > > I'm wondering if someone who started late can share their

> > experience?

> > > Appreciate any info..

> > >

> > > Thanks,

> > >

> > > Anxious dad

> > >

> >

>

May 7, 2008

Duh! I just looked back and you are the one from Singapore! OOPS,

Sorry!

Anyway, if flying to California is doable for you, then I really

think that is a better idea than what the specialist suggested.

Becky

> > >

> > > Hi,

> > >

> > > I'm a father of a 15-month old daughter who has a slight

> > positional

> > > plagio on the right side at the back of her head. My local

> > > craniofacial surgery specialist in Singapore said it is now too

> > late

> > > to be doing helmet treatment and snickered when i said i'm

> > > considering even going to California to try the DOC band for my

> > > child. He said the manufacturers can say whatever they want

just

> > to

> > > make a buck.

> > > Obviously this doc was unsympathetic and cynical with the

cranial

> > > helmet treatment, though he still gave us a referral letter to

a

> > > local orthotist, which i'm not sure if they'll do a proper job

in

> > > creating the helmet. So, the prospect of us getting the DOC

band

> > in

> > > the US is something i still consider.

> > >

> > > I'm wondering if someone who started late can share their

> > experience?

> > > Appreciate any info..

> > >

> > > Thanks,

> > >

> > > Anxious dad

> > >

> >

>

May 7, 2008

Yes, her head does look like she has plagio. It looks like there may be a

bit of brachy as well, where the head length is almost the same as the head

width. My guess would be on the moderate side. CT has a good assessment

chart that you can look at to compare her shape:

http://www.cranialtech.com/medicalinfo/assessment/plagiocephaly.pdf

http://www.cranialtech.com/medicalinfo/assessment/brachycephaly.pdf

You mentioned in your last post that the doctor said that manufacturers can

say whatever they want just to make a buck. CT won't sell you a band if it

won't work on your child. There has to be enough asymmetry in the head for

the band to have holding points. If the head is too round it won't hold

properly.

Although CT has the best reputation for treating older children there are

several STARband clinics in Asia that might make the travel a bit easier.

At your daughter's age she would probably need to go in for adjustments

every three weeks.

Ai-Met Company, Inc.

Satoko Tabako

Estem Court Tenjinbashi 601

2-3-46, Kokubunji, Kita-Ku

Osaka, Japan

531-0064

(816) 635-27898

Email: stabako@...

Seah Inc.

Jung-Mok Lee, CPO

#f 112-23 Samsung-dong Kangnam-gu

Seoul 135-890

Korea

82-2-568-3685 Fax: 82-2-568-6685

email: jmlee2228@...

www.orthokorea.net

Taiwan Orthotics and Prosthetics Company

CJ Chou

5th Floor, No 59, Section 4

XinYi Road

Taipei, Taiwan 106

886-2-2703-7878

Molly

Novato, California

Nicolas, 2.5, tort & plagio, STARband (CIRS Oakland) 4/24/06-9/12/06,

Graduate!

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