Re: developmental outcomes article

[Guest guest]

Dana-

I agree with Kelli's post. I take all of those articles with a grain of salt, because of the fact that articles that were written about plagio only two years ago severely discount plagio and the need to correct the malformation. Most articles I read when I became knowledgeable about this subject said not to worry about the head shape, it will round out on its own, pretty much what I heard from doctors. Then I heard that plagio will not cause any developmental problems later on, but then I hear it might. I guess every child is individual, but like Kelli's , my walked at 10 months also, and at almost 13 months now is trying to climb things. He dances, and understands the word "dance", he plays patty cake, blows kisses...etc. etc. etc. I have been told by his doctors that is developmentally on track, if not ahead in some ways. Also, there is a woman who has posted on this board, I can't remember her name, but she has a five year old son who has uncorrected plagio, and she said that he is a normal, happy,healthy five year old, and really the only problem they have encountered is trying to find bicycle helmets that will fit him properly. And honestly, I saw a picture of him, and I couldn't really even tell he had plagio.

So please don't worry too much. If your baby seems to be on track now developmentally, I wouldn't beat yourself up too much. You are the best judge of your child, so please don't listen to these articles.

Also, just for some perspective, I am a court reporter, and this attorney I work for frequently has the weirdest shaped head I've ever seen. Sometimes I think he has uncorrected cranio, because his head kind of dips down in the back, like my son's kind of does (he doesn't have cranio though), but he's an attorney! I always wonder if maybe he did have it and no one knew about it much back then, but he was okay, and even went on to be an attorney! I always think of that when I start to feel bad. I also saw a doctor with a funny shaped head!

Please don't worry!

Kellie, mom of , helmeted 1/17/02, born 1/17/01!

Tacoma, WA

[Guest guest]

Tim,

Thanks so much for addressing this concern with everyone! You are so great about helping all of the parents here- and I for one really appreciate your input. I would like some clarification on something here:

You stated that developmental delays lead to positional plagiocephaly. My question is: how is a delay associated with causing plagio? My son was not delayed on any milestone, and I don't understand how a developmental delay could contribute to head flattening? Am I just misunderstanding this? I could see if the child was so delayed that they were unable to sit up and get pressure of their heads, but other than that, what about all the kids that don't have delays? Thanks!! Your shared knowledge is invaluable here!

' Mom

[Guest guest]

OK, so I decide to check the board last night before going to bed

and come across this article. Foolishly, I read it. The results of

the study seem to lean towards a higher risk that our children will

have subtle developmental challenges as they get older b/c of their

plagio. I spent most of the night crying. If he grew up and had

developmental challenges in a normal situation, I would have been

able to deal with it. However, since he has been diagnosed with

plagio...I have felt extremely guilty. My only relief was that

everyone was telling me his condition is mostly cosmetic. I figured

the helmet would help correct any potential jaw or vision problems

that may have come up later in life.

I don't think I can express to everyone how upset I am over this.

I may be overreacting but as a parent we are suppose to give our

children the best possible start in life. I feel as though I have

failed. I am also a first time " paranoid " parent. I will probably

spend the next 4-5 years analyzing everything he does and blame

myself for any little setbacks. Maybe ignorance is bliss

sometimes. My husband tells me I read too much...maybe he is right.

(sighhhh) Sorry everyone for the long message. Please tell me I am

over reacting

Dana (mom of )

Ont.

> <A

HREF= " http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/105/2/e26 " >Click

here: Pediatrics -- and Clarren 105 (2): e26</A>

[Guest guest]

Hi Dana... I would give or take those studies hon. Think of all the studies they do, and later on down the road, a different study is done, and discounts the original...lol. As for delays... I'm not sure of everyone else, BUT>>>> my Em walked at 10 months, does the normal jibberish!! And OMG, at 14 months old, scares the life out of me all the time... the little bugger likes to climb... onto the highest thing possible.... LIKE my kitchen table!!! It's a bit scary... She's as agile as my cats for goodness sakes. I'm not sure of speech, or learning yet, but she sure study's us, and repeats what we do, like brushing her hair, teeth, and anything else she WANTS to do...lol. She's getting pretty good with a spoon too.

Sometimes I think those people have nothing better to do than scare us who want to learn more about our children. So please, unless you SEE a development delay, don't worry over it too much.

Kelli and

[Guest guest]

Dana-

I don't even read research articles like this one anymore. I also

have a 2 year old and you wouldn't believe the difference 2 years

makes in the research world. I was told a million times not to use

a nightlight in her room because it causes cancer. As ridiculous as

that sounds, there was a research article " proving " that. Since

that time it has been overturned. This is only one of several

things that have changed. Just wait a few months and I'm sure

someone will release one to the contrary.

Just keep an eye out. My brother was in special ed classes for

reading in grade school. He graduated with honors from Notre Dame

in 97 and is doing very well. I was in physical therapy for several

years when I was a teenager. I'd say both of us turned out fine. I

think parental care has so much more to do with those types of

things that some researcher whose job it is to make everyone

nervous!

Dane's mom (getting banded this week!)

> > <A

> HREF= " http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/105/2/e26 " >Click

> here: Pediatrics -- and Clarren 105 (2): e26</A>

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone,

I would recommend a word of Caution when reading this article on

developmental delays. There is much debate in the medical community

about this and it centers around whether the developmental issues are

the chicken or the egg.

We know that children with developmental delays are more likely to

develop positional plagiocephaly. So the argument can be made that

the developmental issues lead to plagiocephaly and not the other way

around. It should also be pointed out that the relationship between

developmental issues and plagiocephaly in that study was true only

for the males, not the females - this raises a red flag for me, and

suggests that something else is going on. Until stronger evidence is

presented, I am of the opinion that developmental issues lead to

plagiocephaly, not the other way around. This opinion would also

seem to be supported by the observation that treatment of

plagiocephaly with the Seattle helmet had no bearing on the final

developmental outcomes.

There was a similar article written in the November issue of Plastic

and Reconstructive Surgery (Panchal et al) that attempted to draw a

similar concusion. However a commentary by Dr. Persing (Yale

Craniofacial)discussed the problems with jumping to this conclusion

based on the evidence presented.

I think it is great that everyone is taking the time to read these

articles, and am a strong believer that an educated parent is the

best advocate for their child. If anyone is interested, we can

continue to discuss this topic in greater detail.

Sincerely,

Tim Littlefield

Cranial Technologies, Inc.

> <A

HREF= " http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/105/2/e26 " >Click

here: Pediatrics -- and Clarren 105 (2): e26</A>

[Guest guest]

,

Point well said (see my post below). This was one of my concerns

with the article as well - it did not use strong tests for assessment

of 'developmental delays' rather used items such as whether the child

needed speech therapy etc to identify them as having developmental

delays.

Tim

> > > <A

> > HREF= " http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/105/2/e26 " >Click

> > here: Pediatrics -- and Clarren 105 (2): e26</A>

[Guest guest]

Tim, I just love your posts. Thanks so much for the insight!!

Kelli mommy to DOCgrad

[Guest guest]

Thanks everyone for your kind and encouraging words. I have not

seen any type of delay in . In fact he appears to be meeting

all of his milestones early...that's what kind of freaked me out

about the study in the first place.

I know intellectally not to take much heed to the studies. My

husband explained this to me by quoting the info from a million

stats courses he did in university..however, emotions often overrule

common sense:)

Dana (mom of )

Ont.

> > > <A

> >

HREF= " http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/105/2/e26 " >Click

> > here: Pediatrics -- and Clarren 105 (2): e26</A>

[Guest guest]

Thanks everyone for your kind and encouraging words. I have not

seen any type of delay in . In fact he appears to be meeting

all of his milestones early...that's what kind of freaked me out

about the study in the first place.

I know intellectally not to take much heed to the studies. My

husband explained this to me by quoting the info from a million

stats courses he did in university..however, emotions often overrule

common sense:)

Dana (mom of )

Ont.

> > > <A

> >

HREF= " http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/105/2/e26 " >Click

> > here: Pediatrics -- and Clarren 105 (2): e26</A>

[Guest guest]

Based on what everyone elses reply to the article was, I decided not

to read it. Thank you Tim for your replies to it. I have a tendency

to freak out about things that " might " or " could " happen so to save

my nerves, I think I'll skip it .

That's why I don't watch Dateline and those shows any more. They

make up news & stories about what could happen from eating too many

green beans (ok, I'm exaggerating), water is bad for you now, all

kinds of stuff. We all worry about our precious children soooo much

and want whats best for them. I am very thankful Abby's

only " problem " in her little life is plagio.

Abby BTW is not delayed with anything, maybe her speech a bit but she

is now saying at least 20 words and is extremely (ok, I'm bias) smart

with other things. She'll be 2 in 2.5 wks (YIKES!).

Debbie Abby's mom DOCGrad

MI

[Guest guest]

I hear you Deb, I'll skip it to.

[Guest guest]

Dana,

I just

read the article and find it disheartening also.  However, a lot of times if learning-related problems are caught

in the early years, children can go on to flourish in school.  I guess we can take solace in the fact that

we will be hyper-vigilant of any school problems and get our children the help

they need as soon as possible. 

Keep your

chin up!

(and

)

[Guest guest]

Dana:

Many of us have read that article - I personally hate it. It's way too vague! It doesn't give any background information on those kids, nor does it offer a follow-up study.

Just from MY experience (and I'm sure many will chime in with their own child's greatness!), I honestly don't feel that my daughter is challenged in any way so far. She's 27 months now, and although she was a "late" walker (15 months), she seems so smart - at least to me!! She knows her alphabet (both capital letters & small letters), her numbers from 1 - 10, plus some of the teens. She "tells time" and by this I mean she looks at her watch and whatever number the small hand is pointing to, it's "x" o'clock. Just for a few examples. These, to me, are not signs of mental delays. She had severe plagio, and was treated for 5 months with a DOCBand. She still has some flatness.

Please don't worry about that article! I'm sure there are some delayed kids out there who happen to have flat heads, but there are so many factors that could cause any sort of delays. You're a good Mom! Don't drown yourself in guilt.

Hugs!

Kendra

Re: developmental outcomes article

OK, so I decide to check the board last night before going to bed and come across this article. Foolishly, I read it. The results of the study seem to lean towards a higher risk that our children will have subtle developmental challenges as they get older b/c of their plagio. I spent most of the night crying. If he grew up and had developmental challenges in a normal situation, I would have been able to deal with it. However, since he has been diagnosed with plagio...I have felt extremely guilty. My only relief was that everyone was telling me his condition is mostly cosmetic. I figured the helmet would help correct any potential jaw or vision problems that may have come up later in life.I don't think I can express to everyone how upset I am over this.I may be overreacting but as a parent we are suppose to give our children the best possible start in life. I feel as though I have failed. I am also a first time "paranoid" parent. I will probably spend the next 4-5 years analyzing everything he does and blame myself for any little setbacks. Maybe ignorance is bliss sometimes. My husband tells me I read too much...maybe he is right. (sighhhh) Sorry everyone for the long message. Please tell me I am over reacting :)Dana (mom of )Ont. > <A HREF="http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/105/2/e26">Click here: Pediatrics -- and Clarren 105 (2): e26</A>For more plagio info