Re: DOC Band - Need 1 or 2?

[Guest guest]

They told us up front that my son would need 2 bands. His problem started

inutero and was considered severe at 20 mm of asymmetry. When their deformity

starts inutero it takes longer to correct. Another factor is their age when

they start the band. My son started at almost 5 months and I was told that

babies that age typically outgrow the band in 2-3 months, ours lasted 9 weeks.

We are starting with band # 2 at 7 months old and were told it would last 3-4

months. Younger than 7 months they adjust it weekly because they grow so fast.

After 7 months the adjustments are every 2 weeks. DOC Bands are also thinner

than other bands, it makes them lighter and in theory, easier to wear but they

don't last as long.

If your son has torticollis, that can also slow down the rate that they improve.

The sooner you get that resolved the better results you will get with the band.

I never got the impression that Cranial Tech was pushing 2 bands just to make

money. We even got cold feet just before we got the first band and canceled our

appointment the day before and we never got any pressure from them to move

forward. We also didn't commit to the 2nd band right away and our technician

told us to spend some time with our son without his band to get used to his new

head shape. We did finally decide that we wanted to do the 2nd band but again,

we were never pressured by Cranial Tech. Their website says about 20% of babies

use more than 1 band.

I hope this makes sense and answered your question.

>

> For those of you that got the DOC Band, did your child need one or two? It

seems the more I read most kids need two. Do you think that's the way CT

operates as in to make more money or what is the reasoning behind so many

needing 2 bands instead of one? It seems if you get the STARBand or Hanger you

only need one, not 2 like CT. I don't want my son to be in one any longer than

necessary but of course want the best for him. At the consultation at CT, they

said our son would most likely need 2 Bands. Why can't they just correct his

plagio with one band???

>

[Guest guest]

I've heard something like 15% of patients need a second docband. That number is

not exact but in the ball park (forget the exact number). My daughter wore a

starband for 5 mo. Both are good products. Docband's philosphy is that the band

won't be as effective after 4 mo. They choose the outside plastic and foam

according to what they feel produces the best results. Wearing a band for longer

isn't necessarily better - it depends a lot on how good the band is fitted and

how good the ortho/clinician is. It is unusual, but not unheard of for starband

and hanger to do a second band. However I would say the overall customer

satisfaction is higher for docband.

I don't think that CT operates just to make money. There are even parents who

want a second band, and CT says no because the head doesn't have enough

asymmetry to make a good band. Also you may get great correction from the first

band - but they are giving you a head's up at the start about a possible second

band.

-christine

sydney, 4 yrs, starband grad

>

> For those of you that got the DOC Band, did your child need one or two? It

seems the more I read most kids need two. Do you think that's the way CT

operates as in to make more money or what is the reasoning behind so many

needing 2 bands instead of one? It seems if you get the STARBand or Hanger you

only need one, not 2 like CT. I don't want my son to be in one any longer than

necessary but of course want the best for him. At the consultation at CT, they

said our son would most likely need 2 Bands. Why can't they just correct his

plagio with one band???

>

[Guest guest]

Our son just got his second DOCband a couple of weeks ago, at 10 1/12 months.

When he was getting close to the end of the first one, we asked about a second

one, and they told us that they would have to take the pictures and then

determine. I could definitely tell a difference from his Right profile, but his

left profile still looked flat. It was better than the original pics, but I

still wasn't happy. When I was in getting the second band, I asked about the

difference, and was told that the first band worked on the flattened part on the

right side (it was more prominent) and this second band would correct the round

of the back and left. I was a bit surprised, because there was no mention of

the second band early on, even though I did ask, but it seemed like the second

band was probably going to be inevitable from the get go, if that's the way they

were correcting. CT did tell us that most parents opt against the second band,

but it seems like everyone on here that has had the option has gone for it. Our

son will be in it for another 3-4 months, which is a bit of a bummer, because I

was hoping he would be out of it by the time it got warmer, but no such luck. I

am very glad that we did the second one, and in the grand scheme of things, it's

only a few months in his long life... (Plus I can get more stickers )

Insurance did cover the second one as well....

> >

> > For those of you that got the DOC Band, did your child need one or two? It

seems the more I read most kids need two. Do you think that's the way CT

operates as in to make more money or what is the reasoning behind so many

needing 2 bands instead of one? It seems if you get the STARBand or Hanger you

only need one, not 2 like CT. I don't want my son to be in one any longer than

necessary but of course want the best for him. At the consultation at CT, they

said our son would most likely need 2 Bands. Why can't they just correct his

plagio with one band???

> >

>

[Guest guest]

On Apr 6, 2010, at 11:12 PM, christineashok wrote:

> I've heard something like 15% of patients need a second docband.

> That number is not exact but in the ball park (forget the exact

> number).

" Less than 20%... "

<http://www.cranialtech.com/index.php?

option=com_content & view=article & id=235:treatment-

faqs & catid=75:treatment-info & Itemid=18#A23>

That's roughly the difference between one in six and one in five.

Two different ball parks, if unit fractions are ball parks.

Cranial tech is unquestionably the best. Whatever you pay for them,

it's worth it. I would think they can afford to disclose this

information in a more straigtforward manner, particularly how it

breaks down for asymmetrical plagio vs. brachycephaly.

A longer-lasting band that requires fewer adjustments, and presumably

less technical expertise, would seem to give competing products an

edge, if your location, insurance coverage, or wallet size are less

than ideal.

--

Thad Launderville

Montpelier, VT

Clara age 24 months, STARband grad (8/09 - 3/10)