Improper fitting DOC Band.

[Guest guest]

My almost 5 month old son has torticollis since 2 months, and plagiocephaly with

flattening on the back right side of his head, bulging on the front right

forehead, and his right ear has shifted forward. He has been in a DOC Band for

almost one month (fitted on December 22 at exactly 4 months of age). His

treatment was expected to be about 6 weeks. When we went back for our first

adjustment (he goes weekly), I voiced my concerns of the fit of his DOC Band. It

seems very tight on the right side of his head, which is where he has his

flattening. In fact they had to shave some of the foam down in the " holding

point " on the bottom right over the neck because it was causing some pretty bad

redness and irritation. Even after shaving it, it still is extremely tight when

compared to the left side. It also seems to bother him because he is constantly

pulling on the right side of the band, not the left.

It also fits incorrect around his right ear. (It is the side with the velcro

strap.) For being " custom made " there is about a 2 inch or more gap from the

back of his ear to the start of the band, and the sideburn piece covered part of

his ear where he now had some chaffing of the skin. They have shaved the

sideburn piece each time but it still covers some of the ear and irritates the

skin. To me it seemed that the band was much too small from the very beginning

which is why I brought it up week one. When I did bring it up at the first

adjustment, the clinician quickly said that it fits properly and you want it

snug so it doesn't move. I understand that we want to prevent it from moving,

but it seems odd that we are putting so much more pressure on the right side

which is the side with flattening, than the left. The left side fits great...it

goes around the ear, not over it. There is enough pressure to keep it in place

but not too much.

I have brought up my concern each and every week that we have gone back, we have

seen 2 different clinicians, and yet my concerns still get pushed aside as " it's

normal " . I even said at our 2nd adjustment that I felt the band was much too

small and that I didn't want them telling me in 2 weeks that he needs a 2nd

band. She told me that if that were the case then yes something would be wrong

with the band. I honestly feel like this may be a ploy to sell a 2nd band and

make more $$$. I asked with curiosity what's the average life expectancy of a

band for a 4 month old, and she said about 8 weeks. I though ok great, our

expected treatment is 6 weeks, the band will last 8 weeks....we should be ok.

So after 4 weeks we have seen significant improvement in his forehead, but I do

not see any rounding out on the right back side. I'm pretty sure it is because

there is no room for growth as it is so tight. I have also noticed that when we

remove the band for bath and cleaning that there is a significant indentation

where the edges of the band separate under the velcro strap. That gap between

where the band starts and ends has about a 1 inch gap between where the band

meets. When the band is removed the skull sticks out quite a bit from where the

gap sits. You can actually see the entire vertical line where the back of the

band stops indented in his skull!!! I brought this up at our last appointment

this week and she told me 'not to dwell on a little indentation as long as we

see overall progress'. I can't help but dwell I paid $3000 for this out of

pocket. I feel like we are doing more harm than good with his flat spot...if the

band wasn't on wouldn't his skull naturally have grown to be about where it is

in that gap where there is no band. I am not expecting perfection here but for

the price we paid for the DOC Band, I want to get descent results.

So at our last adjustment appointment, the clinician also told me that he has

outgrown the band. (Surprise, not!) She wanted to remove it next week, which

would only be 5 weeks into treatment! The right side is still flat!!! But then

after I complained she said she may be able to get one more adjustment from it

and we'll remove it the week after. Honestly I do not see how she can get

another adjustment from it; there is probably only 1/8 of an inch of foam left

on the right side. My husband, who was against the helmet from the beginning,

wants to take it off now because the indentation/ bulging on the right is so

bad. Since our appointment on Tuesday, where she gave him a " large growth

adjustment " , the indentation seems to be getting significantly worse by the day.

(Is there a way to send pictures?)

Also, his Physical Therapist each week has stated that she does not feel the

band fits right since he first got it. We saw his pediatrician the second week

in the band and he too said it needs some major adjusting, but that I would be

surprised how they can adjust these things without making a new band.

After seeing how bad the indentation on his already preexisting flat spot has

gotten just since yesterday, I am really bothered by it. I do not feel

comfortable leaving him in this band another day. Does anyone know if each

office has a supervisor I can speak with first? Should I just call their

corporate office? In 4 weeks I have gotten nowhere with complaining to the 2

clinicians we have seen. I have not seen anyone in the office except for the 2

clinicians, 2 clinicians who travel there alternating weeks from Virginia, and

2 office staff ladies. How often are DOC Bands made where they do not fit

properly? How often do they have to remake a band? Any suggestions on what you

think I should do would be greatly appreciated. I am completely at a loss. I am

typically the nice one that doesn't complain, and maybe that's why my " gentle

complaining " has gotten me nowhere.

Thanks,

Tara

[Guest guest]

Hi Tara. I don't know how common it is, but it does happen - the ill fitting

DOC Band. I know of a person who went to the same CT Office I did (Paramus, NJ)

and twice, they screwed up her son's band. It was on the first one and then

when he outgrew that, they also did it again when ordering his 2nd. Both times

they did correct it, at their expense. And I believe, that both times, the

parents had to really be firm in *demanding* another round of images to prove

that it just didn't fit.

I'm so sorry that you're having these issues. I would maybe call the office you

go to before your next visit, re-state your concerns and ask about meeting with

someone else there, now that at least you'll be heard before a quick 'well it's

supposed to be tight' comment. If that doesn't seem to get you anywhere, I'd

get the corporate office involved and see what they suggest you do. It's

frustrating b/c obviously we're trusting these people to know what they're

doing. But at the same time, you have to go with your gut... we never had any

problems with skin irritation or really red spots that lasted more than a few

minutes after taking the band off. My son never seemed to mind it at all. He

wore it from 5 months, to just about 8 months. 11 weeks total. So...

something just doesn't seem right if your little one is at it all the time.

It's bothering him : (

So very sorry you're having to deal with this, on top of just having to deal

with it, if that makes sense. Good luck to you and let us know how you make

out. Maybe others will have better advice, but that's what I'd do. I think : )

- Robyn

>

> My almost 5 month old son has torticollis since 2 months, and plagiocephaly

with flattening on the back right side of his head, bulging on the front right

forehead, and his right ear has shifted forward. He has been in a DOC Band for

almost one month (fitted on December 22 at exactly 4 months of age). His

treatment was expected to be about 6 weeks. When we went back for our first

adjustment (he goes weekly), I voiced my concerns of the fit of his DOC Band. It

seems very tight on the right side of his head, which is where he has his

flattening. In fact they had to shave some of the foam down in the " holding

point " on the bottom right over the neck because it was causing some pretty bad

redness and irritation. Even after shaving it, it still is extremely tight when

compared to the left side. It also seems to bother him because he is constantly

pulling on the right side of the band, not the left.

>

> It also fits incorrect around his right ear. (It is the side with the velcro

strap.) For being " custom made " there is about a 2 inch or more gap from the

back of his ear to the start of the band, and the sideburn piece covered part of

his ear where he now had some chaffing of the skin. They have shaved the

sideburn piece each time but it still covers some of the ear and irritates the

skin. To me it seemed that the band was much too small from the very beginning

which is why I brought it up week one. When I did bring it up at the first

adjustment, the clinician quickly said that it fits properly and you want it

snug so it doesn't move. I understand that we want to prevent it from moving,

but it seems odd that we are putting so much more pressure on the right side

which is the side with flattening, than the left. The left side fits great...it

goes around the ear, not over it. There is enough pressure to keep it in place

but not too much.

>

> I have brought up my concern each and every week that we have gone back, we

have seen 2 different clinicians, and yet my concerns still get pushed aside as

" it's normal " . I even said at our 2nd adjustment that I felt the band was much

too small and that I didn't want them telling me in 2 weeks that he needs a 2nd

band. She told me that if that were the case then yes something would be wrong

with the band. I honestly feel like this may be a ploy to sell a 2nd band and

make more $$$. I asked with curiosity what's the average life expectancy of a

band for a 4 month old, and she said about 8 weeks. I though ok great, our

expected treatment is 6 weeks, the band will last 8 weeks....we should be ok.

>

> So after 4 weeks we have seen significant improvement in his forehead, but I

do not see any rounding out on the right back side. I'm pretty sure it is

because there is no room for growth as it is so tight. I have also noticed that

when we remove the band for bath and cleaning that there is a significant

indentation where the edges of the band separate under the velcro strap. That

gap between where the band starts and ends has about a 1 inch gap between where

the band meets. When the band is removed the skull sticks out quite a bit from

where the gap sits. You can actually see the entire vertical line where the back

of the band stops indented in his skull!!! I brought this up at our last

appointment this week and she told me 'not to dwell on a little indentation as

long as we see overall progress'. I can't help but dwell I paid $3000 for this

out of pocket. I feel like we are doing more harm than good with his flat

spot...if the band wasn't on wouldn't his skull naturally have grown to be about

where it is in that gap where there is no band. I am not expecting perfection

here but for the price we paid for the DOC Band, I want to get descent results.

>

> So at our last adjustment appointment, the clinician also told me that he has

outgrown the band. (Surprise, not!) She wanted to remove it next week, which

would only be 5 weeks into treatment! The right side is still flat!!! But then

after I complained she said she may be able to get one more adjustment from it

and we'll remove it the week after. Honestly I do not see how she can get

another adjustment from it; there is probably only 1/8 of an inch of foam left

on the right side. My husband, who was against the helmet from the beginning,

wants to take it off now because the indentation/ bulging on the right is so

bad. Since our appointment on Tuesday, where she gave him a " large growth

adjustment " , the indentation seems to be getting significantly worse by the day.

(Is there a way to send pictures?)

>

> Also, his Physical Therapist each week has stated that she does not feel the

band fits right since he first got it. We saw his pediatrician the second week

in the band and he too said it needs some major adjusting, but that I would be

surprised how they can adjust these things without making a new band.

>

> After seeing how bad the indentation on his already preexisting flat spot has

gotten just since yesterday, I am really bothered by it. I do not feel

comfortable leaving him in this band another day. Does anyone know if each

office has a supervisor I can speak with first? Should I just call their

corporate office? In 4 weeks I have gotten nowhere with complaining to the 2

clinicians we have seen. I have not seen anyone in the office except for the 2

clinicians, 2 clinicians who travel there alternating weeks from Virginia, and

2 office staff ladies. How often are DOC Bands made where they do not fit

properly? How often do they have to remake a band? Any suggestions on what you

think I should do would be greatly appreciated. I am completely at a loss. I am

typically the nice one that doesn't complain, and maybe that's why my " gentle

complaining " has gotten me nowhere.

>

> Thanks,

> Tara

>

[Guest guest]

Tara,

I know what you mean by not wanting to call corporate, we had a situation with

our office where were going to and I did make a complaint to the corporate. I

left a very detailed complaint and I left my name and number so they would call

me back. In 7 days the manager of the store contacted me. I told them everything

I wanted them to know about what was going on, he was very nice and assured me

that our children are very important to us and them. So if you think for one

minute something is not right I would contact them, that away someone else is

aware of the situation. Time is ticking and there little heads are growing and

for best results do what you think is best.

7 month son 3 weeks in hanger helmet

>

> My almost 5 month old son has torticollis since 2 months, and plagiocephaly

with flattening on the back right side of his head, bulging on the front right

forehead, and his right ear has shifted forward. He has been in a DOC Band for

almost one month (fitted on December 22 at exactly 4 months of age). His

treatment was expected to be about 6 weeks. When we went back for our first

adjustment (he goes weekly), I voiced my concerns of the fit of his DOC Band. It

seems very tight on the right side of his head, which is where he has his

flattening. In fact they had to shave some of the foam down in the " holding

point " on the bottom right over the neck because it was causing some pretty bad

redness and irritation. Even after shaving it, it still is extremely tight when

compared to the left side. It also seems to bother him because he is constantly

pulling on the right side of the band, not the left.

>

> It also fits incorrect around his right ear. (It is the side with the velcro

strap.) For being " custom made " there is about a 2 inch or more gap from the

back of his ear to the start of the band, and the sideburn piece covered part of

his ear where he now had some chaffing of the skin. They have shaved the

sideburn piece each time but it still covers some of the ear and irritates the

skin. To me it seemed that the band was much too small from the very beginning

which is why I brought it up week one. When I did bring it up at the first

adjustment, the clinician quickly said that it fits properly and you want it

snug so it doesn't move. I understand that we want to prevent it from moving,

but it seems odd that we are putting so much more pressure on the right side

which is the side with flattening, than the left. The left side fits great...it

goes around the ear, not over it. There is enough pressure to keep it in place

but not too much.

>

> I have brought up my concern each and every week that we have gone back, we

have seen 2 different clinicians, and yet my concerns still get pushed aside as

" it's normal " . I even said at our 2nd adjustment that I felt the band was much

too small and that I didn't want them telling me in 2 weeks that he needs a 2nd

band. She told me that if that were the case then yes something would be wrong

with the band. I honestly feel like this may be a ploy to sell a 2nd band and

make more $$$. I asked with curiosity what's the average life expectancy of a

band for a 4 month old, and she said about 8 weeks. I though ok great, our

expected treatment is 6 weeks, the band will last 8 weeks....we should be ok.

>

> So after 4 weeks we have seen significant improvement in his forehead, but I

do not see any rounding out on the right back side. I'm pretty sure it is

because there is no room for growth as it is so tight. I have also noticed that

when we remove the band for bath and cleaning that there is a significant

indentation where the edges of the band separate under the velcro strap. That

gap between where the band starts and ends has about a 1 inch gap between where

the band meets. When the band is removed the skull sticks out quite a bit from

where the gap sits. You can actually see the entire vertical line where the back

of the band stops indented in his skull!!! I brought this up at our last

appointment this week and she told me 'not to dwell on a little indentation as

long as we see overall progress'. I can't help but dwell I paid $3000 for this

out of pocket. I feel like we are doing more harm than good with his flat

spot...if the band wasn't on wouldn't his skull naturally have grown to be about

where it is in that gap where there is no band. I am not expecting perfection

here but for the price we paid for the DOC Band, I want to get descent results.

>

> So at our last adjustment appointment, the clinician also told me that he has

outgrown the band. (Surprise, not!) She wanted to remove it next week, which

would only be 5 weeks into treatment! The right side is still flat!!! But then

after I complained she said she may be able to get one more adjustment from it

and we'll remove it the week after. Honestly I do not see how she can get

another adjustment from it; there is probably only 1/8 of an inch of foam left

on the right side. My husband, who was against the helmet from the beginning,

wants to take it off now because the indentation/ bulging on the right is so

bad. Since our appointment on Tuesday, where she gave him a " large growth

adjustment " , the indentation seems to be getting significantly worse by the day.

(Is there a way to send pictures?)

>

> Also, his Physical Therapist each week has stated that she does not feel the

band fits right since he first got it. We saw his pediatrician the second week

in the band and he too said it needs some major adjusting, but that I would be

surprised how they can adjust these things without making a new band.

>

> After seeing how bad the indentation on his already preexisting flat spot has

gotten just since yesterday, I am really bothered by it. I do not feel

comfortable leaving him in this band another day. Does anyone know if each

office has a supervisor I can speak with first? Should I just call their

corporate office? In 4 weeks I have gotten nowhere with complaining to the 2

clinicians we have seen. I have not seen anyone in the office except for the 2

clinicians, 2 clinicians who travel there alternating weeks from Virginia, and

2 office staff ladies. How often are DOC Bands made where they do not fit

properly? How often do they have to remake a band? Any suggestions on what you

think I should do would be greatly appreciated. I am completely at a loss. I am

typically the nice one that doesn't complain, and maybe that's why my " gentle

complaining " has gotten me nowhere.

>

> Thanks,

> Tara

>