Anyone have experience with Lawall & Starband in Philadelphia

[Guest guest]

Hi there,My son was diagnosed with significant asymmetrical brachio.. probably about 2 months ago. Since then, we found a location near us that offered the Starband. Initially we had a pretty good experience with getting my son's head scanned and getting his helmet and having it fitted. Sebastian has been wearing his helmet for a month now, and last week (Tues), we went in, and the orthotist literally spent 2 mins with us.. did a quick measure and sent us on our way. Sebastian had been in his band 3 weeks at that point and no adjustments. By Fri, I noticed the helmet was really scrunching his forehead and making a little dent across it, as well it was pushing in a fair bit on his cheeks. So I called and scheduled an appt for Monday. We went in, she hastily looked at him, decided

to shave off a layer, and now the helmet is really big on him and shifts around a lot. I'm not quite sure what to do.. every time I go in there, the woman is so rushed and I feel like I'm not getting the right help for my son. I mean, it's the shape of his head we're influencing!! I try to ask questions and she basically one word answers and moves on. Has anyone else been to this place.. does anyone have any recommendations as to if having this helmet this big on him is a bad thing? I just don't know what to do.Thanks!Genevieve

[Guest guest]

Hello, yes! My son is also a patient at Lawall and has been in his helmet for

almost one month. Our experience has been similar, I see what you mean about

the technician being in a rush to do take the measurements and hurry you out the

door. So far we have only had one adjustment. At the time I did not have any

questons but on my way home I too wondered how she determines how much to shave

off. Is it done manually or does she punch in the measurements and there is a

machine that does the shaving. I plan to ask when I go back. Also, I had to

ask twice for her to shave a little off around the left eye as it was too low

and obstructing his view. I think we need to be very direct with her in the

future.

Good luck, keep us posted. Maybe I will see you in the office! So far I have not

seen any other babies.

>

> Hi there,

> My son was diagnosed with significant asymmetrical brachio.. probably about 2

> months ago. Since then, we found a location near us that offered the Starband.

> Initially we had a pretty good experience with getting my son's head scanned

and

> getting his helmet and having it fitted. Sebastian has been wearing his helmet

> for a month now, and last week (Tues), we went in, and the orthotist literally

> spent 2 mins with us.. did a quick measure and sent us on our way. Sebastian

had

> been in his band 3 weeks at that point and no adjustments. By Fri, I noticed

the

> helmet was really scrunching his forehead and making a little dent across it,

as

> well it was pushing in a fair bit on his cheeks. So I called and scheduled an

> appt for Monday. We went in, she hastily looked at him, decided to shave off a

> layer, and now the helmet is really big on him and shifts around a lot. I'm

not

> quite sure what to do.. every time I go in there, the woman is so rushed and I

> feel like I'm not getting the right help for my son. I mean, it's the shape of

> his head we're influencing!! I try to ask questions and she basically one word

> answers and moves on. Has anyone else been to this place.. does anyone have

any

> recommendations as to if having this helmet this big on him is a bad thing? I

> just don't know what to do.

>

> Thanks!

> Genevieve

>

[Guest guest]

I'm sorry that you didn't have a positive experience at your appointment. If the

difficulty has not been resolved to your satisfaction or if you have any other

questions please feel free to contact me directly at pfrank4127@....

>

> Hi there,

> My son was diagnosed with significant asymmetrical brachio.. probably about 2

> months ago. Since then, we found a location near us that offered the Starband.

> Initially we had a pretty good experience with getting my son's head scanned

and

> getting his helmet and having it fitted. Sebastian has been wearing his helmet

> for a month now, and last week (Tues), we went in, and the orthotist literally

> spent 2 mins with us.. did a quick measure and sent us on our way. Sebastian

had

> been in his band 3 weeks at that point and no adjustments. By Fri, I noticed

the

> helmet was really scrunching his forehead and making a little dent across it,

as

> well it was pushing in a fair bit on his cheeks. So I called and scheduled an

> appt for Monday. We went in, she hastily looked at him, decided to shave off a

> layer, and now the helmet is really big on him and shifts around a lot. I'm

not

> quite sure what to do.. every time I go in there, the woman is so rushed and I

> feel like I'm not getting the right help for my son. I mean, it's the shape of

> his head we're influencing!! I try to ask questions and she basically one word

> answers and moves on. Has anyone else been to this place.. does anyone have

any

> recommendations as to if having this helmet this big on him is a bad thing? I

> just don't know what to do.

>

> Thanks!

> Genevieve

>

[Guest guest]

From what I know the adjustment is made based on observing where the band is

tight and making " enough " room by shaving out some foam based on the ortho's

judgment. Sometimes our ortho would try it on the head after shaving some, then

go back and finish up. I think the machine is some kind of specialized sander,

but I didn't see it.

If the ortho is too busy you need to be direct and let them know that you are

not satisfied, and that they need to schedule more time for you.

As for Genevieve, the band shouldn't be so loose it is slipping around. It might

be a little loose after an adjustment, but it should still stay in place. If she

was rushed because she squeezed you in for an appointment, then schedule a

follow up where she'll have more time for you. I would call and tell her that

the band is slipping, and you want to check if it is holding properly. Also if

it is moving a lot, check for redspots on your son's head to make sure it isn't

causing irritation (normal respots may be there, but will fade when the band is

off and not look " angry " ).

-christine

sydney, 4.5 yrs, starband grad

> >

> > Hi there,

> > My son was diagnosed with significant asymmetrical brachio.. probably about

2

> > months ago. Since then, we found a location near us that offered the

Starband.

> > Initially we had a pretty good experience with getting my son's head scanned

and

> > getting his helmet and having it fitted. Sebastian has been wearing his

helmet

> > for a month now, and last week (Tues), we went in, and the orthotist

literally

> > spent 2 mins with us.. did a quick measure and sent us on our way. Sebastian

had

> > been in his band 3 weeks at that point and no adjustments. By Fri, I noticed

the

> > helmet was really scrunching his forehead and making a little dent across

it, as

> > well it was pushing in a fair bit on his cheeks. So I called and scheduled

an

> > appt for Monday. We went in, she hastily looked at him, decided to shave off

a

> > layer, and now the helmet is really big on him and shifts around a lot. I'm

not

> > quite sure what to do.. every time I go in there, the woman is so rushed and

I

> > feel like I'm not getting the right help for my son. I mean, it's the shape

of

> > his head we're influencing!! I try to ask questions and she basically one

word

> > answers and moves on. Has anyone else been to this place.. does anyone have

any

> > recommendations as to if having this helmet this big on him is a bad thing?

I

> > just don't know what to do.

> >

> > Thanks!

> > Genevieve

> >

>