Re: Lop ear and plagio? and response to 's recent scan

[Guest guest]

Kathy,

Given the recent measurements that you've posted and the length of time in the band, this makes total sense. If his ears are still sticking out, then I'm guessing that it is not related to the plagio.

And, you've been here nearly as long as I have and I don't think that we've seen any other posts about this loop ear. It also sounds like it is more related to the upper part of the ear than the skull.

So, no need to feel guilty. The two are probably not related.

For a while, I felt bad at how 's ears looked, but over time, and I believe with the chiro that she has had, her ears now look totally typical to me. They stick out only the very slightest bit, but less than some kids who have completed normal heads. So, I've let the ears go as well.

You should feel really good about 's progress now that his numbers are in the normal range for both level 3 and level 5 (I meant to reply to your post, but it got lost in my other emails). You have done so much to help his head and I'm guessing that you will have helped so many other things for him by doing all of the alternative treatments that you have. We are so grateful that we tried chiro for and the most obvious side effect was the cure of her reflux. We also saw visual improvement in her head as well, even if we don't have numbers to back that up. Neither of my kids have had any ear infections since they started getting adjusted and we all have been healthier this season than any season since the first child was born.

I know the desire to seek for perfection - or in 's case, I just wanted what others would call "normal" by the measurements. (focusing too much on the numbers is an unfortunate side effect of my job). But, it has been a process for me to learn to start accepting her head shape. I don't believe that her head stands out these days (even though her numbers say that she is very much not normal) and I'm guessing that 's probably doesn't either, although I have never seen pictures. It just seems that with his numbers, it is hard to imagine that it could not look normal.

For a while, I considered more treatments for her and I'm still not 100 percent sure, but I'm beginning to feel that enough is enough and it is time to spend my time, finances, and efforts on other things. My kids are starting to grow up and I'd love to put that money towards a gymnastics day camp for both kids this summer rather than more treatments that may or may not work due to her rising age. And, as gets older, her personality stands out more and I can start focusing more on that than on her head. is a little younger than and I was still struggling when she was approaching 2, but I'm hoping that as his personality and talents begin to shine, you can relax about what is probably a pretty typical head shape. With his numbers, I sincerely doubt that he will have any medical effects. It will probably never be noticeable to anyone but you.

But that's the way it works - we spend so much time analyzing the head that it is hard not to see those little things that are not perfect. Or, it least this is the way it works for some of us (me included). And for those of us that banded late, there is extra guilt for not doing anything earlier. I believe that there is a kind of understanding between us mom's of older banded babies (no offense to moms of younger babies intended here). There is guilt for the head being flat, but then add on the guilt for not doing anything until late, and this is really hard to let go of. I speak from experience. It becomes more difficult as the toddlers approach their helmet graduation and we had wanted more improvement than we got. Yes, we had been cautioned that we wouldn't get all the way there, but we had secretly hoped that our toddlers could be an exception or at least would have gone further than they did. At least that was the way it was for me.

In 's case, you did get further than some of us since his numbers are in the normal range. Think about it - do you really think that his numbers could have been better if banded at 6 months? It's possible, but many babies graduate with those numbers. It's hard to get a perfect 0 mm. I really think that you can let go of your guilt just because of how far he has come. Continue with the PT for the recent issue that you discovered. Of course, many children can benefit from chiro, CST, and osteopathy, even for other concerns (in my opinion). That is why we are continuing with the chiro.

Having said all of that, I am still having trouble completely letting go - so I do understand the struggle.

, mom to , 2 2/3 years

STARBand grad May 2009

Chiro and CST

land Lop ear and plagio?

Hi,Does anyone know whether there is a connection between lop ear and plagio? This is where the tip of the ear bends over and it can be corrected by surgery. After some research on the internet, we believe 's right ear has this. Our understanding is it is usually congenital. Looking at pictures we see it for sure by 6 weeks, and possibly sooner. 's plagio developed late and is amazingly not visible in top and side head pictures even past 3 months. We are almost sure the lop ear came before the plagio. Although maybe they are both caused by the preference to turn right.'s right ear is also very slightly pushed forward from the plagio and barely sticks out below. However, the lop ear seems to be more the upper cartilage. If you have followed my emails, you may recall we tried taping 's right ear with a splint for a few months, but gave up since it didn't seem to do any good and the skin started becoming a bit irritated.Honestly, the bend in the ear is not that bad and looks kind of cute, at least on a toddler. I'm hoping it is not caused from the plagio, since then I won't feel guilty and just accept it as something he was born with that can be fixed. We would probably decide not to fix it unless he complains about it. Does anyone know whether or not there is a connection between lop ear and plagio? Thanks,Kathy

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Thanks.  From the other post, I think there is an indirect connection. 

However, it sounds like the plagio did not cause 's bent upper ear,

and preventing or treating the plagio earlier would not have helped the

ear, so I shouldn't feel guilty.   Perhaps it is the same with

's eye, since I don't see how his very mild plagio could have

caused his eye asymmetry and we are pretty sure the eye came first.

I'm surprised 's numbers made it to normal.  I'm relieved to have

those stressful scans behind me and it feels good to know 's

measurements are in normal range.  I'm also surprised that given the

measurements that I can still see the plagio.  Part of it is the flat

spot is mostly above level 5.  Also, a big part of what I see is the

bone sticking out on the right and not the measurements.   Another

thing I'm surprised about is that I still see visible improvement, but

extremely slowly, especially recalling how slow our improvement was

last summer.

Yes, I feel extremely guilty for banding late still.   I feel extra

guilty that it took me almost 5 years to realize has a little

plagio and then not to catch it on .   's was probably too

mild for banding, so I am thankful I don't have to feel guilty about

not banding him.  Based upon my experiences with , I estimate

's asymmetry to be about 5mm.  However, as improves, I feel

more sad about 's head.  At least, I should be able to accept

's head again since I can remind myself that even I didn't

notice it.  has always been cute even with the mild plagio, and

looks much better than a year ago, and he will look normal too.

I am very happy for you that you can move on.  I know you have put a

tremendous amount of energy into this.  For , I am optimistic that

he has potential for more visible improvement, so I think it is worth

still treating him.  Unfortunately, for , I am not so optimistic

on any visible improvement, but at least these treatments seem to be

helping him emotionally, and that is a big relief in itself.

Thanks again for your nice reply.

Best,

Kathy

wrote:

 

Kathy,

 

Given the recent measurements that you've posted and the length of

time in the band, this makes total sense. If his ears are still

sticking out, then I'm guessing that it is not related to the plagio.

 

And, you've been here nearly as long as I have and I don't think

that we've seen any other posts about this loop ear. It also sounds

like it is more related to the upper part of the ear than the skull.

 

So, no need to feel guilty. The two are probably not related.

 

For a while, I felt bad at how 's ears looked, but over

time, and I believe with the chiro that she has had, her ears now look

totally typical to me. They stick out only the very slightest bit, but

less than some kids who have completed normal heads. So, I've let the

ears go as well.

 

You should feel really good about 's progress now that his

numbers are in the normal range for both level 3 and level 5 (I meant

to reply to your post, but it got lost in my other emails). You have

done so much to help his head and I'm guessing that you will have

helped so many other things for him by doing all of the alternative

treatments that you have. We are so grateful that we tried chiro for

and the most obvious side effect was the cure of her reflux. We

also saw visual improvement in her head as well, even if we don't have

numbers to back that up. Neither of my kids have had any ear infections

since they started getting adjusted and we all have been healthier this

season than any season since the first child was born.

 

I know the desire to seek for perfection - or in 's case, I

just wanted what others would call "normal" by the measurements.

(focusing too much on the numbers is an unfortunate side effect of my

job). But, it has been a process for me to learn to start accepting her

head shape. I don't believe that her head stands out these days (even

though her numbers say that she is very much not normal) and I'm

guessing that 's probably doesn't either, although I have never

seen pictures. It just seems that with his numbers, it is hard to

imagine that it could not look normal.

 

For a while, I considered more treatments for her and I'm still

not 100 percent sure, but I'm beginning to feel that enough is enough

and it is time to spend my time, finances, and efforts on other things.

My kids are starting to grow up and I'd love to put that money towards

a gymnastics day camp for both kids this summer rather than more

treatments that may or may not work due to her rising age. And, as

gets older, her personality stands out more and I can start

focusing more on that than on her head. is a little younger than

and I was still struggling when she was approaching 2, but I'm

hoping that as his personality and talents begin to shine, you can

relax about what is probably a pretty typical head shape. With his

numbers, I sincerely doubt that he will have any medical effects. It

will probably never be noticeable to anyone but you.

 

But that's the way it works - we spend so much time analyzing the

head that it is hard not to see those little things that are not

perfect. Or, it least this is the way it works for some of us (me

included). And for those of us that banded late, there is extra guilt

for not doing anything earlier. I believe that there is a kind of

understanding between us mom's of older banded babies (no offense to

moms of younger babies intended here). There is guilt for the head

being flat, but then add on the guilt for not doing anything until

late, and this is really hard to let go of. I speak from experience. It

becomes more difficult as the toddlers approach their helmet graduation

and we had wanted more improvement than we got. Yes, we had been

cautioned that we wouldn't get all the way there, but we had secretly

hoped that our toddlers could be an exception or at least would have

gone further than they did. At least that was the way it was for me.

 

In 's case, you did get further than some of us since his

numbers are in the normal range. Think about it - do you really think

that his numbers could have been better if banded at 6 months? It's

possible, but many babies graduate with those numbers. It's hard to get

a perfect 0 mm. I really think that you can let go of your guilt just

because of how far he has come. Continue with the PT for the recent

issue that you discovered. Of course, many children can benefit from

chiro, CST, and osteopathy, even for other concerns (in my opinion).

That is why we are continuing with the chiro.

 

Having said all of that, I am still having trouble completely

letting go - so I do understand the struggle.

 

, mom to , 2 2/3 years

STARBand grad May 2009

Chiro and CST

land

Lop ear and plagio?

 

Hi,

Does anyone know whether there is a connection between lop ear and

plagio?  This is where the tip of the ear bends over and it can be

corrected by surgery.  After some research on the internet, we believe

's right ear has this.  Our understanding is it is usually

congenital.  Looking at pictures we see it for sure by 6 weeks, and

possibly sooner.  's plagio developed late and is amazingly not

visible in top and side head pictures even past 3 months.  We are

almost sure the lop ear came before the plagio.  Although maybe they

are both caused by the preference to turn right.

's right ear is also very slightly pushed forward from the plagio

and barely sticks out below.  However, the lop ear seems to be more the

upper cartilage.  If you have followed my emails, you may recall we

tried taping 's right ear with a splint for a few months, but gave

up since it didn't seem to do any good and the skin started becoming a

bit irritated.

Honestly, the bend in the ear is not that bad and looks kind of cute,

at least on a toddler.  I'm hoping it is not caused from the plagio,

since then I won't feel guilty and just accept it as something he was

born with that can be fixed.  We would probably decide not to fix it

unless he complains about it.  Does anyone know whether or not there is

a connection between lop ear and plagio? 

Thanks,

Kathy