Re: Need a 2nd DOC band?

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

It sounds like Neal has made good progress and is growing fast. Our specialist

(cranial facial plastic surgeon) recommends banding at 10 mm or more, and I know

other parents who have banded at lower numbers. So based on that I would say go

with the 2nd band. However every baby looks different, so you need to take that

into consideration too. My daughter wore a starband for brachy (flat in back

with very little asymmetry). She has always been big for her age, and quite

strong. She did not slow down one bit while in her band and was on time or early

for all her milestones. I'm not saying this to brag, but just to let you know

that the band isn't necessarily delaying your child. Also the starband is a bit

heavier in generally. As for insurance coverage I don't know. Insurance varies

so widely. I know some parents who do get coverage for multiple bands, and

others who don't even get one paid for. Maybe cranial tech can submit the

paperwork now, so you can see if it will be covered.

Let us know what you decide.

-christine

sydney, 4 yrs, starband grad

>

> Hi, this is the first post I've ever created. My son Neal is going to be 6

months old next week and has been in his DOC band for 7 weeks. He has only one

week left before he is done. They are recommending he get a second band because

his ears are still asymmetrical. I don't know much about the numbers because our

clinician tends to use her knowledge and experience in place of the numbers on

paper to judge his progress...but she did tell me as far as total head asymmetry

he started at a 17 and is now at a 10. His ears started at 5mm and are now at

2mm. Judging from the photos he had taken he looks wonderful and has made

excellent progress. His ears will never be perfect but I am unsure as to whether

or not a second band will do him any good. Not sure if insurance will cover a

second one either? He also seems like he cannot do many things he should be

doing by now...for example, rolling over. He has rolled over without the band on

but not with it. I am very unsure of getting a second one and wanted to see if

anyone had any experience needing two! Thanks in advance.

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you for replying . His head looks amazing. But I suppose there is

still room for improvement. He has not been delayed in any milestones yet. I

know he is not even six months yet so I shouldn't be worried about rolling over,

etc. He also had torticollis so he is just now receiving PT for it, even thought

the therapist said all the stretching and exercises I did with him the last few

months have really improved his tort. I hate the thought of him in another band

for 8 more weeks. It just seems like the little guy can't get a break but I know

I will do what is best for him in the long run. Thanks again.

> >

> > Hi, this is the first post I've ever created. My son Neal is going to be 6

months old next week and has been in his DOC band for 7 weeks. He has only one

week left before he is done. They are recommending he get a second band because

his ears are still asymmetrical. I don't know much about the numbers because our

clinician tends to use her knowledge and experience in place of the numbers on

paper to judge his progress...but she did tell me as far as total head asymmetry

he started at a 17 and is now at a 10. His ears started at 5mm and are now at

2mm. Judging from the photos he had taken he looks wonderful and has made

excellent progress. His ears will never be perfect but I am unsure as to whether

or not a second band will do him any good. Not sure if insurance will cover a

second one either? He also seems like he cannot do many things he should be

doing by now...for example, rolling over. He has rolled over without the band on

but not with it. I am very unsure of getting a second one and wanted to see if

anyone had any experience needing two! Thanks in advance.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

My son was at 11 mm asymmetry when he got his Doc Band. He was in a different

product for 5 months before switching to Doc Band. Our first orthotist was ready

to be done with us, but I was still very uncomfortable with the way my son's

head looked.

If you are at peace with his head shape now then it is probably fine to stop. I

was still very troubled by his head every time I looked at it ( especially in

the bath with his hair wet)....That's why I decided to band the second time.

has been in it for less than a months and I am already glad that we did it.

My son is almost 11 months so the progress is slower for us...

Hope this helps.

>

> Hi, this is the first post I've ever created. My son Neal is going to be 6

months old next week and has been in his DOC band for 7 weeks. He has only one

week left before he is done. They are recommending he get a second band because

his ears are still asymmetrical. I don't know much about the numbers because our

clinician tends to use her knowledge and experience in place of the numbers on

paper to judge his progress...but she did tell me as far as total head asymmetry

he started at a 17 and is now at a 10. His ears started at 5mm and are now at

2mm. Judging from the photos he had taken he looks wonderful and has made

excellent progress. His ears will never be perfect but I am unsure as to whether

or not a second band will do him any good. Not sure if insurance will cover a

second one either? He also seems like he cannot do many things he should be

doing by now...for example, rolling over. He has rolled over without the band on

but not with it. I am very unsure of getting a second one and wanted to see if

anyone had any experience needing two! Thanks in advance.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi there! My son is nearly 6 months and is almost out of his first DOC

Band. I actually am the one who is pushing for the 2nd (getting his scan for it

this week). My son has primarily Brachycephaly with mild left Plagio. His

cephalic index was 100% and is now at 92.2%. His CVA started at 6 mm and is now

4 mm. He had VERY slight facial asymmetry, which is now negligible. But I want

to get his CI into the 80s--as low as possible.

If your insurance is paying for the 2nd band, I wouldn't even hesitate with

going for it. My insurance is not, and I'm paying out of pocket (goes to our

deductible) but feel it's the right choice.

Robyn

> >

> > Hi, this is the first post I've ever created. My son Neal is going to be 6

months old next week and has been in his DOC band for 7 weeks. He has only one

week left before he is done. They are recommending he get a second band because

his ears are still asymmetrical. I don't know much about the numbers because our

clinician tends to use her knowledge and experience in place of the numbers on

paper to judge his progress...but she did tell me as far as total head asymmetry

he started at a 17 and is now at a 10. His ears started at 5mm and are now at

2mm. Judging from the photos he had taken he looks wonderful and has made

excellent progress. His ears will never be perfect but I am unsure as to whether

or not a second band will do him any good. Not sure if insurance will cover a

second one either? He also seems like he cannot do many things he should be

doing by now...for example, rolling over. He has rolled over without the band on

but not with it. I am very unsure of getting a second one and wanted to see if

anyone had any experience needing two! Thanks in advance.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Jill,

Thank you very much for your response. Our tech did say that she was optimistic

she could get the CVA# to 5-6 from 10mm. The part she wants to still try to

correct the most is his ears. They started at 5mm and are now at 2mm. She said

she could get it 50% corrected with another band. So if his ears ended up 1mm

off it would barely be noticeable...I guess. I don't know much about the numbers

because our clinician is very very much against going only by numbers. I'm just

waiting now on whether or not the insurance will cover it. It did cover the

first one so I'm hoping it will cover another. I think I'm leaning toward just

doing it. I do not want to regret or wait and decide six months from now that we

need another. I'm so glad that there is this group because I've received so many

insightful and great responses! Thanks again,

>

> -

>

> My son started in his DOC Band at 5 1/2 months and wore it for 7 weeks, as

well. He also started at 17mm CVA and finished band #1 at 10mm. His skull-base

asymmetry started at 8mm; mid-face asymmetry at 10mm. After he graduated, it

took us 7 weeks to decide to do a second band. We really didn't want to do

another one - and insurance didn't cover either band - but after we looked at

his head for 7 weeks, we just really felt like we weren't quite done with his

treatment. He had come a long way and it looked so much better than it did when

we started. But I looked at it this way: we had gotten 7mm of correction and we

could really stand to get another 7mm...which would put us in the normal range.

Our issue was more the CVA than the ears, though there was still asymmetry in

both those other areas (4mm skull-base and 3mm mid-face). So - we got a second

band. He was 9 months old by this time. He wore the second band for 11 weeks

and graduated with 5mm CVA and 0mm skull-base and mid-face assymetry. To us,

the difference between 10mm and 5mm CVA was remarkable. When we looked at his

last exit scan compared to the exit scan after band #1, we couldn't believe the

difference...and were very thankful we didn't stop when we thought about

stopping. You're right - 10mm looks WAY better than 17mm!! But we are glad we

kept going.

>

> You mentioned the tech's recommending a second band to keep working on the

skull-base asymmetry, which is interesting given that it's already in the normal

range. I would think their focus would be on getting that CVA number closer to

normal range. In our case, our conversation with CT was about that CVA number

and that's what we were most concerned about, as well. There was still quite a

bit of correction to be had at that point.

>

> Hope that helps.

>

> Jill

> Cade's mom (13 months, 2 DOC Bands, graduated 12.11.09)

> Austin TX

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Robyn,Did CT recommend a second band? We had a similar situation with plagio only, but they would not do a second band.KimKIM DAVIS, PH.D.Clinical Psychologist, PSY 21796Individual, Couples, Adolescent Child Psychotherapy 16055 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1033 Encino, California 91436 (310) 281-6645drkimdavis@...IMPORTANT WARNING: This email (and any attachments) is only intended for the use of the person or entity to which it is addressed, and may contain information that is privileged and confidential. You, the recipient, are obligated to maintain it in a safe, secure and confidential manner. Unauthorized disclosure or failure to maintain confidentiality may subject you to federal and state penalties. If you are not the intended recipient, please immediately notify us by return email, and delete this message from your computer.From: "romantykrobyn" <romantyk@...>Date: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:49:37 -0000<Plagiocephaly >Subject: Re: Need a 2nd DOC band? Hi there! My son is nearly 6 months and is almost out of his first DOC Band. I actually am the one who is pushing for the 2nd (getting his scan for it this week). My son has primarily Brachycephaly with mild left Plagio. His cephalic index was 100% and is now at 92.2%. His CVA started at 6 mm and is now 4 mm. He had VERY slight facial asymmetry, which is now negligible. But I want to get his CI into the 80s--as low as possible.If your insurance is paying for the 2nd band, I wouldn't even hesitate with going for it. My insurance is not, and I'm paying out of pocket (goes to our deductible) but feel it's the right choice.Robyn> >> > Hi, this is the first post I've ever created. My son Neal is going to be 6 months old next week and has been in his DOC band for 7 weeks. He has only one week left before he is done. They are recommending he get a second band because his ears are still asymmetrical. I don't know much about the numbers because our clinician tends to use her knowledge and experience in place of the numbers on paper to judge his progress...but she did tell me as far as total head asymmetry he started at a 17 and is now at a 10. His ears started at 5mm and are now at 2mm. Judging from the photos he had taken he looks wonderful and has made excellent progress. His ears will never be perfect but I am unsure as to whether or not a second band will do him any good. Not sure if insurance will cover a second one either? He also seems like he cannot do many things he should be doing by now...for example, rolling over. He has rolled over without the band on but not with it. I am very unsure of getting a second one and wanted to see if anyone had any experience needing two! Thanks in advance. > >>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

My daughter wore her band for approx 8 weeks and we had the option of getting a

second band. Unlike your son, my daughter had brachy, which means her head was

flat in the back, VERY flat. She got her band about the same age your son did.

I feel like our situations are very similiar except for the plagio vs. brachy.

We paid out of pocket for our DOC Band and are still in the process of appeals.

When trying to decide about a second, we looked at some key things.

Unfortunately money wise we could not afford a second, but we felt like it was

okay. I know CT would have been glad to put another band on her, but they new

from the beginning that us affording a second band would be slim to none so they

did great about not pushing it. Here's the deal- her improvements really were

significant for 8 weeks in the band and although not in " normal " range (sim. to

you), we all agreed it was enough of an improvement that she shouldn't have any

affects later on from any flatness that may remain and visually she looked much

better with a nice roundness to her head. Also, the little bit of tilt in her

neck was now gone and she was becoming more and more active, so laying on the

back of her head wasn't a factor anymore. They felt like her head would

continue to improve over time as well now that it had been " retrained " to grow

the correct way. With all this said it's been a few months now since she

graduated from her DOC Band, and I am glad we didn't put ourselves in a

financial crisis or state of stress over the second band, because I think her

head looks great and I do continue to see improvements. Also, her hair

thickening really helps bring out the roundness. In our case, there was no harm

in not getting a second band. I did state from the beginning that if she had

regression (which can happen, but seems to be very rare) we would then get a

second.

I hope this perspective helps some.

>

> Hi, this is the first post I've ever created. My son Neal is going to be 6

months old next week and has been in his DOC band for 7 weeks. He has only one

week left before he is done. They are recommending he get a second band because

his ears are still asymmetrical. I don't know much about the numbers because our

clinician tends to use her knowledge and experience in place of the numbers on

paper to judge his progress...but she did tell me as far as total head asymmetry

he started at a 17 and is now at a 10. His ears started at 5mm and are now at

2mm. Judging from the photos he had taken he looks wonderful and has made

excellent progress. His ears will never be perfect but I am unsure as to whether

or not a second band will do him any good. Not sure if insurance will cover a

second one either? He also seems like he cannot do many things he should be

doing by now...for example, rolling over. He has rolled over without the band on

but not with it. I am very unsure of getting a second one and wanted to see if

anyone had any experience needing two! Thanks in advance.

>