Re: fitting our newly adopted 13m old w/a helmet

[Guest guest]

According to some, my son had a " charley brown " head from the front

but then (if they were honest) they would go " oh " when you'd show

them the back. Some people have good sucess with Hanger. It really

depends on the ortho. Plus, you may have more stares/comments now

but the time is so quick and you are correcting something that could

prevent problems later or teasing later. Good luck.

PS: We never once had rude stares. 7 months seems like a long

time unless his plagio is really severe. But then again 13 months

is older so maybe that is why as they do grow at a slower rate the

older they get.

>

> First, THANKS so much for all the Congratulations!! We are very

> excited!! And THANKS for the emails. I'm new to message boards.

>

> We are in Kansas, just outside of Wichita. We went to Hanger.

And

> from looking at the pamphlet, everythng says Hanger Cranial Band,

so

> that's the only thing I know to call it. It is a helmet though,

not a

> band. I have done a little research on the internet when I have

> time. She thought it would have to be worn about 7 months!?

>

> My husband isn't really interested in doing this at all. I think

since

> it's very hard to tell when you look at our son (Sander is his

name)

> from the front that he feels it's not necessary. I think he's a

little

> worried about going out in public etc, which I'm sure takes a

little

> getting used to I'm sure, but it's just something you have to do.

>

> The way the orthotist talked she has done older children, but I

would

> have to ask again. Sander's little head is flatter on left front

and

> right rear. I appreciate all the " Go for it's ! "

>

[Guest guest]

Hanger is a band. Some Hanger offices also offer starbands (in

addition to hanger bands). If your son's teeth were crooked would your

husband get braces? Why not fix his head too? Also he may have

problems later with things like TMJ, or just getting glasses and

bicycle helmets to fit properly. He may go bald at a young age and his

misshapen head will show - who knows. I would fix it if you can.

Going out in public is intimidating at first, but you get used to it,

and really - who cares? You are doing what is best for your son.

-christine

sydney 2 yrs starband grad

>

> First, THANKS so much for all the Congratulations!! We are very

> excited!! And THANKS for the emails. I'm new to message boards.

>

> We are in Kansas, just outside of Wichita. We went to Hanger. And

> from looking at the pamphlet, everythng says Hanger Cranial Band, so

> that's the only thing I know to call it. It is a helmet though, not a

> band. I have done a little research on the internet when I have

> time. She thought it would have to be worn about 7 months!?

>

> My husband isn't really interested in doing this at all. I think since

> it's very hard to tell when you look at our son (Sander is his name)

> from the front that he feels it's not necessary. I think he's a little

> worried about going out in public etc, which I'm sure takes a little

> getting used to I'm sure, but it's just something you have to do.

>

> The way the orthotist talked she has done older children, but I would

> have to ask again. Sander's little head is flatter on left front and

> right rear. I appreciate all the " Go for it's ! "

>

[Guest guest]

It depends on your insurance I think whether you need a

true " referral " to a specialist (don't some require written/formal

referrals? mine doesn't, my ped just recommended where we should go).

But a pediatrician can write the prescription for the band and you

could go directly to Hanger with it. Some might say it looks better

for insurance reasons if the script is written by a specialist, but

that's not always the case. I think a specialist is mainly used to

rule out craniosynostisis as the cause of a mis-shaped head. If it's a

cut and dry case of plagio, the specialist can be bypassed as long as

the ped is band-friendly and/or willing to write the script.

Hope that helps!

Jake-19m (tort resolved/rt plagio/DOCBand 10 weeks)

Jordan-4

>

> Does anyone know...is it necessary to go to a neurosurgeon, or is it

> sometimes common for the pediatrician to just send us straight to

> Hanger? I had assumed we would be referred to a neurosurgeon but

were

> not. This pediatrician (he is not our regular pediatrician) did

tell

> us that if we do go through w/this to come back and see him so he

can

> do a head xray.

>

> Thanks!

>