Hanger Orthotics in Portland Oregon?

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

I am new to the group, though have been lurking for a few weeks. Our

8- month old (who was 6.5 weeks premature) was just diagnosed with

mild plagio. Her ears are rather misaligned, but you can't really

notice unless it's pointed out (and then it's rather obvious!). We've

made the decision to try the helmet/band and have an appointment with

Hanger Orthotics next Thursday. I have read a lot about other

parents' experiences with CT, but was wondering if anyone had

experience with Hanger, especially the offices located in Portland

Oregon (unlikely I'm sure!).

Thanks for posting such great information everyone!

e (mom to 4 yo and Ava 8 mos old)

[Guest guest]

Hi e,

I'm actually very excited to read your post! What Hanger will you be going to? If it is the one on Sam Park Road in Portland that is the one we go to. Our experience started off a little rough but the staff @ Hanger has been wonderful. Randall the orthosis is great! I think he said he has been helmeting (I don't know if that is a word ) babies for 16 years. My son Gavin, also 8 months, just loves him. We've had the helmet for almost 3 weeks and already seen improvement. Let me know if you have any questions..this group was very helpful to me during the first few days!

Good Luck.

(mom to Gavin 8 mos)>> Hi everyone,> > I am new to the group, though have been lurking for a few weeks. Our> 8- month old (who was 6.5 weeks premature) was just diagnosed with> mild plagio. Her ears are rather misaligned, but you can't really> notice unless it's pointed out (and then it's rather obvious!). We've> made the decision to try the helmet/band and have an appointment with> Hanger Orthotics next Thursday. I have read a lot about other> parents' experiences with CT, but was wondering if anyone had> experience with Hanger, especially the offices located in Portland> Oregon (unlikely I'm sure!).> > Thanks for posting such great information everyone!> > e (mom to 4 yo and Ava 8 mos old)>

[Guest guest]

Hello and welcome to the group. CT is good, but has limited locations.

We went to a starband provider in the San Francisco area had had very

good results. With starband and hanger you need to check out the ortho

and see if they have sufficient experience, since that is key to

getting good results. You should see how long they've been providing

bands and how many banded babies they see in a given month. What kinds

of results they think you can expect, provide references... If they

are good Hanger can work well.

Let us know how your appt goes.

-christine

sydney 2 yrs starband grad

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> I am new to the group, though have been lurking for a few weeks. Our

> 8- month old (who was 6.5 weeks premature) was just diagnosed with

> mild plagio. Her ears are rather misaligned, but you can't really

> notice unless it's pointed out (and then it's rather obvious!). We've

> made the decision to try the helmet/band and have an appointment with

> Hanger Orthotics next Thursday. I have read a lot about other

> parents' experiences with CT, but was wondering if anyone had

> experience with Hanger, especially the offices located in Portland

> Oregon (unlikely I'm sure!).

>

> Thanks for posting such great information everyone!

>

> e (mom to 4 yo and Ava 8 mos old)

>

[Guest guest]

Hi !

Yes, that is actually the same one we'll be going to! Small world (I

do love !). Our PT at Kaiser speaks very highly of

Randall, so I'm excited to hear that your experience has been positive

with him as well. May I ask what contributed to the rough start? Was

it just getting Gavin used to the helmet? I'd love to hear the

details so that we have a better idea of what to expect. I'm not

thrilled that we'll be starting the process now that the warm weather

is here (well, warm for Portland that is!) b/c I've read so much about

how sweaty the babes can get.

Ava is almost 8 months too -- she was born at St. Vs on Oct. 16th. I

wonder if you all were there around that time too? Just curious!

Thanks so much for your reply!

e

> >

> > Hi everyone,

> >

> > I am new to the group, though have been lurking for a few weeks. Our

> > 8- month old (who was 6.5 weeks premature) was just diagnosed with

> > mild plagio. Her ears are rather misaligned, but you can't really

> > notice unless it's pointed out (and then it's rather obvious!). We've

> > made the decision to try the helmet/band and have an appointment with

> > Hanger Orthotics next Thursday. I have read a lot about other

> > parents' experiences with CT, but was wondering if anyone had

> > experience with Hanger, especially the offices located in Portland

> > Oregon (unlikely I'm sure!).

> >

> > Thanks for posting such great information everyone!

> >

> > e (mom to 4 yo and Ava 8 mos old)

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks -- that's good advice.

I'll keep you all posted...and I'm sure I'll have more questions once

we get the helmet (like where the heck can I get those cute flower

stickers that I've seen in some of the photos??).

e

> >

> > Hi everyone,

> >

> > I am new to the group, though have been lurking for a few weeks. Our

> > 8- month old (who was 6.5 weeks premature) was just diagnosed with

> > mild plagio. Her ears are rather misaligned, but you can't really

> > notice unless it's pointed out (and then it's rather obvious!). We've

> > made the decision to try the helmet/band and have an appointment with

> > Hanger Orthotics next Thursday. I have read a lot about other

> > parents' experiences with CT, but was wondering if anyone had

> > experience with Hanger, especially the offices located in Portland

> > Oregon (unlikely I'm sure!).

> >

> > Thanks for posting such great information everyone!

> >

> > e (mom to 4 yo and Ava 8 mos old)

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi e,

I actually delivered on Sept. 30th (4 weeks early due to preeclampsia) at OHSU, I work for OHSU as well. The start of the process was difficult because we went to our first appointment @ Hanger and were told that we would have them helmet in 2 weeks. Because of a misunderstanding, they were under the impression we were only going to go ahead with the helmet if our insurance covered it. So waiting for insurance approval made it almost a month before Gavin was fitted with his helmet. I learned from this board that the industry standard is two weeks because babies heads grow so quickly. Not knowing this at the time Randall fitted Gavin with the helmet and we left. I actually wasn't that concerned with the fit besides that it sat so low it almost covered his eyes. At one point he developed a sore in between his eyes, I called Randall and he had us come in right away. I expressed my concern about the 2 week standard but because Gavin has mostly brachiocephaly with a mild asymmetry (2mm) that has actually already corrected and the helmet was fitting well I decided to stick with this one. Randall did adjust the helmet so Gavin could see and shaved a bit by the neck line where I though it may be pinching him.

The first week was the hardest for us...me mostly. I felt like I was torturing him, I think I cried more than he did. Once we had the adjustments done Gavin seemed much happier and I think he was use to the helmet completely by week two. As for the warm weather I bought some sleeveless rompers but it hasn't even been warm enough from them yet!

What type of head shape does Ava have? The only advice I would give you is to go with a list of questions and make sure they know you will pay if your insurance doesn't. Best of luck!

(mom to Gavin 8 mos) > > >> > > Hi everyone,> > >> > > I am new to the group, though have been lurking for a few weeks. Our> > > 8- month old (who was 6.5 weeks premature) was just diagnosed with> > > mild plagio. Her ears are rather misaligned, but you can't really> > > notice unless it's pointed out (and then it's rather obvious!). We've> > > made the decision to try the helmet/band and have an appointment with> > > Hanger Orthotics next Thursday. I have read a lot about other> > > parents' experiences with CT, but was wondering if anyone had> > > experience with Hanger, especially the offices located in Portland> > > Oregon (unlikely I'm sure!).> > >> > > Thanks for posting such great information everyone!> > >> > > e (mom to 4 yo and Ava 8 mos old)> > >> >>

[Guest guest]

Hi again,

I wonder how many preemies really do wind up with plagiocephaly? It

seems so common among them. The other preemie in Ava's daycare has

what appears to be brachiocephaly...but I didn't want to actually say

that to the mom. I just pointed out ava's head shape and told her

about what I'd learned about positional plagiocephaly and the possible

helmet. It would be wacky if they both wind up with helmets in school!

Anyway, Ava's head shape is a parallelogram according to her

pediatrician; I personally think it's more of a trapazoid (sp?). The

most obvious thing (when pointed out) is her ear misalignment...I'm

anxious to see the actual measurement that Randall comes up with on this.

I already have the approval letter from our insurance company saying

that they will cover 80%. I'm sort of surprised they are not covering

in full, since we have the most expensive insurance option they offer.

That sort of stinks; however given that other insurers often don't

cover at all, it seems that i shouldn't complain too much.

I think I will be a wreck when I see her in the helmet at first...even

though it seems to be a totally non-invasive way to correct what could

be a hard thing for a teenager to endure! We haven't told the

grandparents yet...I have a feeling they may think we're crazy for

this; the ear thing is not noticeable until pointed out. Did you have

people questioning your judgment? not that it matters what others

think...but just curious how you've handled it. I've always assumed a

child had seizures if they were wearing a helmet...little did I know!

e

> > > >

> > > > Hi everyone,

> > > >

> > > > I am new to the group, though have been lurking for a few weeks.

> Our

> > > > 8- month old (who was 6.5 weeks premature) was just diagnosed with

> > > > mild plagio. Her ears are rather misaligned, but you can't really

> > > > notice unless it's pointed out (and then it's rather obvious!).

> We've

> > > > made the decision to try the helmet/band and have an appointment

> with

> > > > Hanger Orthotics next Thursday. I have read a lot about other

> > > > parents' experiences with CT, but was wondering if anyone had

> > > > experience with Hanger, especially the offices located in Portland

> > > > Oregon (unlikely I'm sure!).

> > > >

> > > > Thanks for posting such great information everyone!

> > > >

> > > > e (mom to 4 yo and Ava 8 mos old)

> > > >

> > >

> >

>