Guest guest Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 My son is 9 months old. After many months of hoping for a change, we're getting him a helmet. His casting is set for Monday and fitting Friday of the next week. This is all new to me, so I'd appreciate any tips for someone just starting out. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 Our son will wear a helmet by RHS in Nashville. He's flat on the back left. Our doctor said he favors the left (always looking in that direction), so repositioning was really hard. I wonder if there's another reason he always looks to the left. From reading the patient book, they have solid colors. > > > > > > Just be prepared with information for those who ask > > > questions (and you'll get a lot of stares without > > > questions, too, unfortunately). Get a thick skin, > > > too, because there's a lot of ignorance out there. > > > (Case in point: one of the first times out with > > > Malcolm in his helmet and some teenager said to his > > > friends, which I could hear, " That kid's a tard. " > > > Oooh, it was hard for me not to deck that jerk!) > > > > > > The baby shouldn't have too much discomfort if the > > > helmet fits properly, so don't freak out too much > > > about that. I think the helmets are actually kinda > > > cute and my son is definitely still a heartbreaker in his. > > > > > > If life doesn't give you a happy ending, make your own. > > > > > > > > > > > _____________________________________________________________________ > > _______________ > > > You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of > > Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost. > > > http://tc.deals./tc/blockbuster/text5.com > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 I think there were two other RHS moms on the board in the past few months - I don't know if they are still active but you might try searching the older messages if you're interested. If your child favors one side, it might be torticollis (tort). This is where one side of the neck is tighter than the other and the muscles need to be stretched to correct this. Your child should be evaluated by someone familiar with tort and if they have it you will need to see a physical therapist to help resolve it. The PT usually sees the child every week or so, but gives you stretches to do at home several times a day. Repositioning is a lot of work, and isn't always effective - which can be very frustrating for parents. It is particularly hard with tort babies. -christine sydney 2 yrs starband grad > > > > > > > > Just be prepared with information for those who ask > > > > questions (and you'll get a lot of stares without > > > > questions, too, unfortunately). Get a thick skin, > > > > too, because there's a lot of ignorance out there. > > > > (Case in point: one of the first times out with > > > > Malcolm in his helmet and some teenager said to his > > > > friends, which I could hear, " That kid's a tard. " > > > > Oooh, it was hard for me not to deck that jerk!) > > > > > > > > The baby shouldn't have too much discomfort if the > > > > helmet fits properly, so don't freak out too much > > > > about that. I think the helmets are actually kinda > > > > cute and my son is definitely still a heartbreaker in his. > > > > > > > > If life doesn't give you a happy ending, make your own. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _____________________________________________________________________ > > > _______________ > > > > You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of > > > Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost. > > > > http://tc.deals./tc/blockbuster/text5.com > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 Hi- Has he been evaluated for torticollis? If he has a preference to look one way, it could mean that his neck muscle is shortened and/or weak on one side, and could benefit from some physical therapy. My son had tort and always looked to his right. It was treated through PT for about 6-8 weeks. Good luck! Jake-18m (tort resolved/rt plagio/DocBand 7 weeks) Jordan-4 > > > > > > > > Just be prepared with information for those who ask > > > > questions (and you'll get a lot of stares without > > > > questions, too, unfortunately). Get a thick skin, > > > > too, because there's a lot of ignorance out there. > > > > (Case in point: one of the first times out with > > > > Malcolm in his helmet and some teenager said to his > > > > friends, which I could hear, " That kid's a tard. " > > > > Oooh, it was hard for me not to deck that jerk!) > > > > > > > > The baby shouldn't have too much discomfort if the > > > > helmet fits properly, so don't freak out too much > > > > about that. I think the helmets are actually kinda > > > > cute and my son is definitely still a heartbreaker in his. > > > > > > > > If life doesn't give you a happy ending, make your own. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _____________________________________________________________________ > > > _______________ > > > > You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of > > > Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost. > > > > http://tc.deals./tc/blockbuster/text5.com > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 His pediatrician never talked about tort. My reading was the first I knew of it. Who diagnosed it for those who have/had it? Are there other signs of tort? > > > > > > > > > > Just be prepared with information for those who ask > > > > > questions (and you'll get a lot of stares without > > > > > questions, too, unfortunately). Get a thick skin, > > > > > too, because there's a lot of ignorance out there. > > > > > (Case in point: one of the first times out with > > > > > Malcolm in his helmet and some teenager said to his > > > > > friends, which I could hear, " That kid's a tard. " > > > > > Oooh, it was hard for me not to deck that jerk!) > > > > > > > > > > The baby shouldn't have too much discomfort if the > > > > > helmet fits properly, so don't freak out too much > > > > > about that. I think the helmets are actually kinda > > > > > cute and my son is definitely still a heartbreaker in his. > > > > > > > > > > If life doesn't give you a happy ending, make your own. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _____________________________________________________________________ > > > > _______________ > > > > > You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of > > > > Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost. > > > > > http://tc.deals./tc/blockbuster/text5.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 My pediatrician diagnosed it as his 2-month well visit by holding my son up and seeing how his head rested. It wouldn't align straight up and down, it was tilted a little. She referred us to a PT and we went 2 days later to start therapy. General symptoms include a head tilt and minimal range of motion to the opposite side that is comfortable for them (in your son's case, it would be difficult for him to look to his right). Here is a link from webmd that might help. http://children.webmd.com/tc/congenital-torticollis-topic-overview To do a little test yourself, stand (or kneel or lay) on his right side and try to engage him (with a toy or rattle or whatever) to look in your direction. Kind of situate yourself a little below his eye sight, so that he would really have to turn his head to see you (and not just move his eyes). If he is unwilling, has a hard time, or can't hold his head in that direction for more than a couple of seconds, it might be tort. Jake-18m (tort resolved/rt plagio/DocBand 7 weeks) Jordan-4 > > > > > > > > > > > > Just be prepared with information for those who ask > > > > > > questions (and you'll get a lot of stares without > > > > > > questions, too, unfortunately). Get a thick skin, > > > > > > too, because there's a lot of ignorance out there. > > > > > > (Case in point: one of the first times out with > > > > > > Malcolm in his helmet and some teenager said to his > > > > > > friends, which I could hear, " That kid's a tard. " > > > > > > Oooh, it was hard for me not to deck that jerk!) > > > > > > > > > > > > The baby shouldn't have too much discomfort if the > > > > > > helmet fits properly, so don't freak out too much > > > > > > about that. I think the helmets are actually kinda > > > > > > cute and my son is definitely still a heartbreaker in his. > > > > > > > > > > > > If life doesn't give you a happy ending, make your own. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _____________________________________________________________________ > > > > > _______________ > > > > > > You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month > of > > > > > Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost. > > > > > > http://tc.deals./tc/blockbuster/text5.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 3, 2008 Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 I'll take notice for different things. Last night we tried one of the repositing tips from this site - gravity. It was hard to get him to lay and keep his left ear on the mattress. I'm going to keep trying it. I'm going to keep trying that one by laying him on his tummy a while each day. That is as long as a crawler will be still. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Just be prepared with information for those who ask > > > > > > > questions (and you'll get a lot of stares without > > > > > > > questions, too, unfortunately). Get a thick skin, > > > > > > > too, because there's a lot of ignorance out there. > > > > > > > (Case in point: one of the first times out with > > > > > > > Malcolm in his helmet and some teenager said to his > > > > > > > friends, which I could hear, " That kid's a tard. " > > > > > > > Oooh, it was hard for me not to deck that jerk!) > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The baby shouldn't have too much discomfort if the > > > > > > > helmet fits properly, so don't freak out too much > > > > > > > about that. I think the helmets are actually kinda > > > > > > > cute and my son is definitely still a heartbreaker in > his. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > If life doesn't give you a happy ending, make your own. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _____________________________________________________________________ > > > > > > _______________ > > > > > > > You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one > month > > of > > > > > > Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost. > > > > > > > http://tc.deals./tc/blockbuster/text5.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 26, 2008 Report Share Posted June 26, 2008 Jenna - have him tested for heavy metal toxicity as one of your first steps. Sounds like he's riding the autism spectrum rails. This can be reversed if you get on it. I really suggest a seasoned DAN! - go ahead with your neuro - but don't be surprised if you don't get advise to " wait " , and a big question mark. They really don't know - and they don't have a lot to offer other than traditional " therapy " . They may even tell you that the omega oils is a dumb idea and not to try the gf/cf diet. All your choice, but keep in mind you have a window to reverse this - full out biomedical is by far the only way to reverse the damage. > > Hi everyone, > > I have been a " lurker " for a couple of months now, but I thought it was time to introduce > myself. First, I want to say thank you for this message board. I felt so lost until I found it. > You all have answered so many questions and made so many of my sons " symptoms " make > sense. We are not alone and that comforts me. I realize he and I are on a long, bumpy > journey together. > > Larsyn is 26 months old. I had him evaluated at our Regional Center when he was 19 > months old...I knew something just wasn't quite right and I expected them to dx autism or > something of that nature. My best friend and sis-in-law are special ed teachers who work > with autistic children, my other sis-in-law is a SLP. Well months later, many hours of > speech therapy and OT we still aren't sure what is going on. I just got a referal to a > pediatric neurologist, so I am excited I may officially have a proper diagnosis. > > He didn't really babble as a baby, he would sometimes start, but then it went away. He had > very weak trunk tone (didn't sit up until after he crawled). He has sensory issues, mostly > oral. Very picky about textures (ex. loves fruit, but won't eat it unless pureed). He has NO > true words. After 6 months of Speech he has a couple of approximations (ba for binky and > bug, uh for up, ki for kitty, ka for cookie/cracker and maybe a couple of others). He will > say mamamama or dadadada. He actually has a delay when responding to you (it is like his > brain needs time to process how to say something). He drools. he stuffs his face with > food, he is a mouth breather, his mouth is rarely > closed. He doesn't like to look you in the eye for long. If he has his food or toys a certain > way, DO NOT MOVE them or he will be very upset. He is clumsy (trips over his own feet!). > He has contact/outdoor allergies (so does his brother). > The positives...he is at his age level for receptive speech, he is extremely loving and happy. > He gives giant hugs and sloppy kisses. > He plays well with other kids (older or younger), he adores his 5 year old brother. He is not > shy around others. He has an easygoing personality. > > He has individual OT 1 hr/wk and goes to " jumpstart program " (speech therapy group with > 5 other boys, taught by SLP , OT and one therapy asst.) 2 hrs day/3 x's week. > We are vegetarians and both my boys have been on Vegan DHA supplements, but I just > ordered Nordic Naturals Omega 3/6/9 liquid (Sorry Fish!). I also ordered a couple of books > many of you have talked about. > > Thank You for reading and I am sure in the future I will have a ton of questions! If anyone > has any suggestions I would love to hear them. You can respond to the post or personally > e-mail me. > Thank you so much, > Jenna Weil RN, BSN > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.