Similar situation with mild case and doc band treatment???

March 2, 2011

We have 6 mo that has had two casting appointments for the doc band. He

(luckily) has made much progress that they keep pushing it off to evaluate

future improvement. He started off severe and would be classified mild now.

Currently out of three measurements he is normal for two. The last one is 3 mm

above normal range. It now has come down to a decision of recommended to

personal decision. Both the ped and doc band tech do not have a firm yes or no

opinion. Insurance does not pay for it. They said we would only need 6-8 weeks

(thankfully) of treatment compared to the longer end, but the price is the same

regardless of length.

Help! Any thoughts? I called Cranial Tech to ask for data on kiddos who have

had this mild case and the results the band produced. They would (nicely) not

give it to me. I worry that it might not help at all being so close to the

" normal. "

I greatly appreciate any thoughts, opinions as I am completely torn.

March 2, 2011

I would wait till his 9 month appointment. And then make a decision. You will

know for sure then and you still have some time at 9 months in a band.

>

> We have 6 mo that has had two casting appointments for the doc band. He

(luckily) has made much progress that they keep pushing it off to evaluate

future improvement. He started off severe and would be classified mild now.

Currently out of three measurements he is normal for two. The last one is 3 mm

above normal range. It now has come down to a decision of recommended to

personal decision. Both the ped and doc band tech do not have a firm yes or no

opinion. Insurance does not pay for it. They said we would only need 6-8 weeks

(thankfully) of treatment compared to the longer end, but the price is the same

regardless of length.

>

> Help! Any thoughts? I called Cranial Tech to ask for data on kiddos who have

had this mild case and the results the band produced. They would (nicely) not

give it to me. I worry that it might not help at all being so close to the

" normal. "

>

> I greatly appreciate any thoughts, opinions as I am completely torn.

>

March 2, 2011

I would get the band. The money is worth it for the peace of mind- knowing that

you did everything within your power to correct your child's plagio. My husband

and I asked ourselves what we would have wanted our parents to do for us if we

developed plagio and the treatment was their responsibility...

They give a discount for paying in cash upfront.

March 3, 2011

You are very lucky that you caught it early and began " treatment " early. :-)

First, I would say that numbers can be so subjective. A different tech can get a

different measurement. It really comes down to how his head looks overall.

Also, is it going to bug you forever? Will you beat yourself up and regret it

if you do nothing?

How long he needs the band will depend on his age going in and how much he grows

while he's in it. Remember that younger babies are growing at a faster rate

than older babies. If you do it sooner, it may only take the 6-8 weeks they

suggest. If you wait until he's older, it may take longer because his rate of

growth has slowed. And if you are going to do it, try to have the whole thing

done before he turns one (to take advantage of the faster growth rate).

Remember to allow time for scheduling your imaging, and then 2 weeks for them to

make the band.

I often have to remind myself that my son's head will never be perfect. His

bulgy spot will always be there. Even when I was there for his DSi, I still

didn't fully comprehend how the band worked. I asked them how the band " pushes

the bulgy spot over " to round it out and she explained that his bulge will

always be there. What's there is there and doesn't get moved by the band. It's

just that as other flatter spots fill in, the head begins to take on a more

rounded or symmetrical shape.

As far as it not working at all because he's so close to normal... I just don't

buy that. As long as they can make the band to have holding points and as long

as the baby is growing, I have to believe that growth goes to the areas needing

volume and you'll see change. I think they have to tell people that to

appropriately set expectations. In fact, when I took my son in for his eval,

they told me he'd probably need 2 bands. So, that's what I was mentally

prepared for. When he was almost done his first band, they were resisting doing

the second because he had done so well. I believed there was still room for

improvement and pushed for the second. And I am so glad I did. He has had

amazing results from his second and I wouldn't have been happy with his head

shape if we'd left it at just one. So, they told me not to expect much out of

the 2nd band (because his case was so mild at that point) and we got a lot out

of it after all.

Good luck with your decision. Keep us posted.

p.s. For what it's worth, my son started his band at 13 mos and is almost done

his 2nd band - he's 19 months now. So, we got these great results even at an

older age.