Re: Hi! Leah welcome to the group. What hanger facility are you going to visit?

[Guest guest]

Leah, where are you from what Hanger are you planning on going too? Some mothers have expressed concern about the hanger office on Long Island NY and some other providers. Let us know the facility and we will try to be more of a help. Tammy

From: leahaltemeier <LeahAlt@...>Subject: Hi!Plagiocephaly Date: Thursday, June 26, 2008, 3:55 PM

I am new to this group and have an appointment to get my 9-month-old fitted at Hanger next week. He has brachycephaly with significant widening of his head. While repositioning has helped, there is a significant flat spot toward the upper posterior region of his head.Have people found that their helmets/bands have corrected the top part of the back of the head, or has the improvement mostly been in the middle part? One professional we talked to wasn't optimistic that we'd get much change on the top.Also, for those whose babes had significant widening of the head, were they satisfied with the outcome overall? I know the head won't get less wide, but am hoping that inhibiting more growth there and getting more rounding in the back will help me feel better about it. I'm concerned that he won't be able to wear standard hats when he's

older!Thanks,Leah

[Guest guest]

Hi! Thanks for writing me The Hanger facility is in Seattle. If

anyone has had any bad experiences there, I'd appreciate hearing

about it. Otherwise, I'm really just interested in people's

experiences with the upper part of the back of the head getting

rounder versus just the middle of the back of the head.

Thanks!

Leah

>

> From: leahaltemeier <LeahAlt@...>

> Subject: Hi!

> Plagiocephaly

> Date: Thursday, June 26, 2008, 3:55 PM

>

>

>

>

>

>

> I am new to this group and have an appointment to get my 9-month-

old

> fitted at Hanger next week. He has brachycephaly with significant

> widening of his head. While repositioning has helped, there is a

> significant flat spot toward the upper posterior region of his head.

>

> Have people found that their helmets/bands have corrected the top

part

> of the back of the head, or has the improvement mostly been in the

> middle part? One professional we talked to wasn't optimistic that

we'd

> get much change on the top.

>

> Also, for those whose babes had significant widening of the head,

were

> they satisfied with the outcome overall? I know the head won't get

> less wide, but am hoping that inhibiting more growth there and

getting

> more rounding in the back will help me feel better about it. I'm

> concerned that he won't be able to wear standard hats when he's

older!

>

> Thanks,

> Leah

>

[Guest guest]

Leah,

My son received his Hanger helmet when he was 9.5 months old. He had severe brachycephaly with (what I understood to be minor) plagiocephaly. His initial cephalic index was 108% and he had 10mm of asymmetry. He has now been in his helmet 11.5 weeks and as of his last measurements (at 9 weeks in) his cephalic index was down to 91% and 0mm of asymmetry. We are happy so far with the results, but still hope for more improvement, of course. 85% has always been my goal, maybe unrealistic, but my goal none the less. It is true that the upper part of the head still looks the flattest, but the overall shape of the head is much improved. The middle part of the back definitely has a more round look than the top, but again, looking at the whole head, it is starting to look pretty round. I do not think anyone would notice, except for those that were really looking for it. Also, I do not

think I would band him at this point if he had started out at 91% because I don't know that I would even judge his head as being flat anymore. My orthotist has told me that the upper part of the head is the hardest to round out, but that it will gradually round out more with time (we have all heard that before).

Mom to 1 year, 2 days old (11.5 weeks in Hanger helmet)

Hi!> Plagiocephaly> Date: Thursday, June 26, 2008, 3:55 PM> > > > > > > I am new to this group and have an appointment to get my 9-month-old > fitted at Hanger next week. He has brachycephaly with significant > widening of his head. While repositioning has helped, there is a > significant flat spot toward the upper posterior region of his head.> > Have people found that their helmets/bands have corrected the top part > of the back of the head, or has the improvement mostly been in the > middle part? One professional we talked to wasn't optimistic that we'd > get much change on the top.> > Also, for

those whose babes had significant widening of the head, were > they satisfied with the outcome overall? I know the head won't get > less wide, but am hoping that inhibiting more growth there and getting > more rounding in the back will help me feel better about it. I'm > concerned that he won't be able to wear standard hats when he's older!> > Thanks,> Leah>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Congratulations on getting such a nice improvement in 12 weeks,

especially starting at 9.5 months. It is very encouraging! It's

validating also to hear another person say that the top part of the

back of the head is the hardest to correct, because that's what we've

been seeing with repositioning. I want to go into this with

realistic expectations. Did the flattening on your son's head cause

his head to become particularly wide also? If so, are you happy with

the changes with respect to that?

Leah

> >

> > From: leahaltemeier <LeahAlt@ >

> > Subject: Hi!

> > Plagiocephaly

> > Date: Thursday, June 26, 2008, 3:55 PM

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > I am new to this group and have an appointment to get my 9-month-

> old

> > fitted at Hanger next week. He has brachycephaly with significant

> > widening of his head. While repositioning has helped, there is a

> > significant flat spot toward the upper posterior region of his

head.

> >

> > Have people found that their helmets/bands have corrected the top

> part

> > of the back of the head, or has the improvement mostly been in

the

> > middle part? One professional we talked to wasn't optimistic that

> we'd

> > get much change on the top.

> >

> > Also, for those whose babes had significant widening of the head,

> were

> > they satisfied with the outcome overall? I know the head won't

get

> > less wide, but am hoping that inhibiting more growth there and

> getting

> > more rounding in the back will help me feel better about it. I'm

> > concerned that he won't be able to wear standard hats when he's

> older!

> >

> > Thanks,

> > Leah

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Yes, his head was very wide to begin with. After his time in the helmet, though, I would not say his head is wide anymore. Since his growth has all been in the back (his width has not grown even a milimeter since the beginning of the helmet), his head looks much more proportionate. On a side note, I have to add that we postponed treatment with the helmet for 2 months due to insurance denials/appeals and during that time, his cephalic index went from 104% to 108%. I found this very disturbing since at the time he was 7.5 months old, sitting up, and I was so obsessed about his flat head, he was only laying down for sleep and diaper changes. This is what really convinced me that his head was not going to get rounder, no matter how much I obsessed over

it. What is your son's cephalic index?

Hi!> > Plagiocephaly> > Date: Thursday, June 26, 2008, 3:55 PM> > >

> > > > > > > > > > > I am new to this group and have an appointment to get my 9-month-> old > > fitted at Hanger next week. He has brachycephaly with significant > > widening of his head. While repositioning has helped, there is a > > significant flat spot toward the upper posterior region of his head.> > > > Have people found that their helmets/bands have corrected the top > part > > of the back of the head, or has the improvement mostly been in the > > middle part? One professional we talked to wasn't optimistic that > we'd > > get much change on the top.> > > > Also, for those whose babes had significant widening of the head, > were > > they satisfied with the outcome overall? I know the head won't get > > less wide, but am hoping that

inhibiting more growth there and > getting > > more rounding in the back will help me feel better about it. I'm > > concerned that he won't be able to wear standard hats when he's > older!> > > > Thanks,> > Leah> >>