Re: CT excluding more toddlers now?

[Guest guest]

If I recall correctly, there have been toddlers starting a Doc band on

this list within the past year as late as 22 months. It probably

varies with CT site and the individual cases.

-Kathy, mom to 22.5 months

Thad Launderville wrote:

On Apr 15, 2010, at 10:43 PM, zsazsa_darconte wrote:

> My son is 17 months and got his helmet from CT 3 days ago. They

> will only start treat up to 18 months.

Cranial Technologies' website mentions treating up to 24 months in a

couple places, but the treatment Quick Facts does list 18 months,

presumably meaning the latest you can initiate treatment. If there

is believed to be a loss of therapeutic effect at 24 months, as

explained elsewhere on the site, wouldn't you subtract only the DOC

Band average treatment time, or the length of time it takes to wear

out? Either is supposed to be shorter than the competitors, so why

adopt the same 18 month age limit that they use?

--

Thad Launderville

Montpelier, VT

Clara age 2 years, STARband grad

[Guest guest]

The location in VA told me that they would not put a second band on my daughter at 19 months, which was the age should we be after her first band if we went with them. This was definitely a different story that others on this list have had. Needless to say, I was quite disappointed.

This is what the told me when I called to ask them questions before we got our STARband and it was a huge part of the reason that we didn't go with them. I knew that I'd only get 16 weeks of correction. With the STARband, we could have up at least 3.5 months and possibly up to 6 months (we got 6 months).

Despite this and with the group's encouragement, I went for a consult when was 22 months old to see if they would give her another band (her first was a STARband and she had graduated from it at 20.5 months). At that consult, they did not recommend a band. First, they told me that her case wasn't severe, but then they also said that even if it was severe, they would not recommend a band at her age and that I'd be throwing away my money. When I pushed a little as we were looking at the book with toddlers of different ages, she showed me the little change in the 21 month old. I pointed out that there was some change, but she said that it wasn't enough to warrant the expense. She then told me that she was unaware of any cases in their office of starting a band past 16 months.

Partly because they had measured her at 86 percent and because I was on the fence about a 2nd band and because she looked better in the photostudy than I thought she would, I didn't push. Also, I had no guarantee that my doctor would write a prescription. She did not believe in banding past 18 months and was not a fan of CT. She had given me a "maybe" response when I had contacted her. She told me to go to the consult and get back to her.

So, I can't answer your questions about what would have happened if I had pushed. They might have agreed to band her if I let them know that I was okay about possibly wasting my money.

I know that there have been other babies on this list that were banded late, but it seems to me that this may vary by location or maybe by the person that you are dealing with.

Honestly, if they had agreed to do a second band at 19 months and had been able to get me in for a consult within the week and my doctor would have okayed a prescription for them, probably would be a doc band graduate. Unlike the realities of some families, the extra cost was doable for us.

Also, some of the difference in what you may be seeing in the literature is that the FDA has only approved banding up to 18 months. My doctor had told me this and I wasn't sure what to believe so I looked up the original approval of the bands. Even the doc band is only FDA approved up to 18 months. However, to CT's credit, they are willing to do a little "off label" treatment. Doctors do this all of the time when they have some exerience that shows effectiveness of a medication when other meds have failed. I'm guessing that some of the CT locations realize the problem of other few options for these toddlers and have some experience showing that there can be some change. So, they go ahead. As a mom of a child that didn't have a chance to band early, I appreciate that. I give them kudos for this. I wish that more STARband and Hanger locations had the same attitude. As much as I loved my ortho, she believed that treatment should stop at 18 months. To her credit, she respected my wishes and let stay in longer.

, mom to , 2.5 years

STARBand grad, May 2009 CT excluding more toddlers now?

On Apr 15, 2010, at 10:43 PM, zsazsa_darconte wrote:> My son is 17 months and got his helmet from CT 3 days ago. They > will only start treat up to 18 months.Cranial Technologies' website mentions treating up to 24 months in a couple places, but the treatment Quick Facts does list 18 months, presumably meaning the latest you can initiate treatment. If there is believed to be a loss of therapeutic effect at 24 months, as explained elsewhere on the site, wouldn't you subtract only the DOC Band average treatment time, or the length of time it takes to wear out? Either is supposed to be shorter than the competitors, so why adopt the same 18 month age limit that they use?-- Thad LaundervilleMontpelier, VTClara age 2 years, STARband grad

[Guest guest]

So, when the government approves, it can be marketed up to a certain

age on a website; and I presume as well, the insurance companies then

have a limitation they can attribute to something other than greed.

In the absence of science, money and power are determining the

standard of care.

--

Thad Launderville

Montpelier, VT

Clara age 2 years, STARband grad

On Apr 16, 2010, at 7:48 AM, wrote:

> [...] the FDA has only approved banding up to 18 months. My doctor

> had told me this and I wasn't sure what to believe so I looked up

> the original approval of the bands. Even the doc band is only FDA

> approved up to 18 months. However, to CT's credit, they are willing

> to do a little " off label " treatment. Doctors do this all of the

> time when they have some exerience that shows effectiveness of a

> medication when other meds have failed.