Hanger helmet after 12 months?

[Guest guest]

Hello list,

I have been lurking for about 2.5 months since my daughter started with a Hanger

helmet for a 13 mm assymetry. We saw Dr. in Waltham who measured

her at 17 mm. We then got her fitted for a helmet in Methuen, MA, the

technician there measured her at 13. She improved to a 7 at 2 weeks and a 6 at

4 weeks. At 6 weeks we had her back to Dr. who measured her at a 7. She

has now had the helmet 8 weeks, she is 12.5 months old. The technician in

Methuen measured her at a 3 with the caliper and then a 7 with the scan. He

recommended that we discontinue treatment as it would take many more months to

achieve any more correction, as we did not see any correction in 4 weeks time.

My first question is is it normal to have such a range of measurements from

doctor to doctor and even with the same technician using different instrumetns?

What measurement to we trust?

Second question is, we do feel ready to be done with the helmet. We were very

discouraged to anticipate much change since we saw no change in 4 weeks. What

has been your experience in correction after 12 months old?

Thanks so much.

Yolanda in NH

[Guest guest]

Hi,

4 weeks is a short time span especially at this age. Also, there is

measurement error even with a scan, and a scan is more accurate than

hand measurements We went 4 weeks where the scan showed essentially no

improvement around age 15 months. We didn't mind the helmet and

continued the treatment for several months. We ended up with another

4mm improvement, and are extremely happy we continued. We also

supplemented with alternative treatments.

Best,

Kathy, mom to 27 months

lilyandtigerlily wrote:

Hello list,

I have been lurking for about 2.5 months since my daughter started with

a Hanger helmet for a 13 mm assymetry. We saw Dr. in

Waltham who measured her at 17 mm. We then got her fitted for a helmet

in Methuen, MA, the technician there measured her at 13. She improved

to a 7 at 2 weeks and a 6 at 4 weeks. At 6 weeks we had her back to Dr.

who measured her at a 7. She has now had the helmet 8 weeks, she

is 12.5 months old. The technician in Methuen measured her at a 3 with

the caliper and then a 7 with the scan. He recommended that we

discontinue treatment as it would take many more months to achieve any

more correction, as we did not see any correction in 4 weeks time.

My first question is is it normal to have such a range of measurements

from doctor to doctor and even with the same technician using different

instrumetns? What measurement to we trust?

Second question is, we do feel ready to be done with the helmet. We

were very discouraged to anticipate much change since we saw no change

in 4 weeks. What has been your experience in correction after 12 months

old?

Thanks so much.

Yolanda in NH

[Guest guest]

One expects longer treatment after one year of age, so the

reliability of the measurements is less of a concern to me than the

validity: does the improvement reflect a correction of the bone

deformity, or the direct influence of the helmet on underlying fluids

and soft tissues. How much circumferential growth has there been?

The more, the better. Too little, and the skull could spring back

into asymmetry if the helmet is removed.

I also wonder, has any foam been shaved out of the interior? You

see, two things need to happen in order for an " active " helmet to

work: the skull has to grow, *and* the orthotist has to reshape the

helmet interior to a more symmetrical form each time it runs out of

space. I suspect this guy is trying to weasel out of his part of the

deal.

Taking evident measurement error into account, it seems possible that

there was actually no change after week 2. The good news about that

is, you got a spot-on helmet from the factory. With Clara, we saw

the manufacturer and local orthotist struggle to provide such an

effective fit throughout the treatment, with her head flexing back

and forth between asymmetry and improvement. By the time they got it

right, she wasn't really growing any more.

But she was *way* older than your baby when we made that call.

You've got almost a year left to work with, by my book. You may well

eventually decide end treatment with the appearance you now see. I'm

just not sure it will " stick. " If you truly are happy with what you

see, my regression theory is testable: just take the helmet off for

four days, and measure again.

--

Thad Launderville

town, VT

Clara age 2, STARband '10

On Aug 29, 2010, at 11:22 AM, lilyandtigerlily wrote:

> My first question is is it normal to have such a range of

> measurements from doctor to doctor and even with the same

> technician using different instrumetns? What measurement to we trust?

>

> Second question is, we do feel ready to be done with the helmet.

> We were very discouraged to anticipate much change since we saw no

> change in 4 weeks. What has been your experience in correction

> after 12 months old?