Questions about head width

[Guest guest]

I was just told my son's twin would benefit from a helmet. Although her

assymetry is not as bad as her brothers, the problem is with the width of her

head. CT says they see a flat spot on one side, I have examined her head and

still can't see it. I do see a difference in her ear placement but not bad. I

see the width of her head and actually always thought she just had a fat head

and bought a larger size hat. She is almost 6 months old and my question is

this: How does the helmet fix the width of her head and the bumps over her ears

if one side of the helmet is open on that side. Maybe brachy parents have the

answers for me even though they didn't categorize her as brachy. That is what I

thought they were going to tell me. I just want to know how likely is the

helmet to help her with her head width and those protrusions?

Thanks,

Jen McMillin

[Guest guest]

extra width is usually called brachy. They measure the width vs the length

(front to back) and the ratio is the cephalic index. Normal is about 78%. Our

doctor recommended banding above 90% (my daughter was around 97%). In the case

of brachy, growth is directed toward the back where there is extra space in the

band. The width is held at the widest point, and the length increases over time,

so the ratio becomes better. If you're not sure it is brachy send a photo (from

top is usually best) and I can take a look.

-christine

sydney, 4.5 yrs, starband grad

>

> I was just told my son's twin would benefit from a helmet. Although her

assymetry is not as bad as her brothers, the problem is with the width of her

head. CT says they see a flat spot on one side, I have examined her head and

still can't see it. I do see a difference in her ear placement but not bad. I

see the width of her head and actually always thought she just had a fat head

and bought a larger size hat. She is almost 6 months old and my question is

this: How does the helmet fix the width of her head and the bumps over her ears

if one side of the helmet is open on that side. Maybe brachy parents have the

answers for me even though they didn't categorize her as brachy. That is what I

thought they were going to tell me. I just want to know how likely is the

helmet to help her with her head width and those protrusions?

> Thanks,

> Jen McMillin

>

[Guest guest]

A band can only try and stop the width from getting wider. It can't actually

make is smaller. But if the band allows the head to grow longer and fill in

more in the back then the width would look smaller. This is what CT told us and

after 8 weeks of the band it does seem to be the case. I do think my daughter

has a naturally wider and bigger head too though. Not sure how much is due to

brachy and how much is natural, but I would definitely say brachy plays a big

part in the width.

> >

> > I was just told my son's twin would benefit from a helmet. Although her

assymetry is not as bad as her brothers, the problem is with the width of her

head. CT says they see a flat spot on one side, I have examined her head and

still can't see it. I do see a difference in her ear placement but not bad. I

see the width of her head and actually always thought she just had a fat head

and bought a larger size hat. She is almost 6 months old and my question is

this: How does the helmet fix the width of her head and the bumps over her ears

if one side of the helmet is open on that side. Maybe brachy parents have the

answers for me even though they didn't categorize her as brachy. That is what I

thought they were going to tell me. I just want to know how likely is the

helmet to help her with her head width and those protrusions?

> > Thanks,

> > Jen McMillin

> >

>