Re: Disappointed: Head growth, but no diagonal change...

[Guest guest]

It is really hard to say what is going on with hand measurements. Plus, have you checked out a ruler and seen how small 2 or 3 mm is? It would be so easy to make a measurement error with that amount. In fact, normal measurement error for hand measurements is up to 2 mm. Then, there is also the possibility that there was error in measuring the diagonals.

I totally get the desire to want to see the change in the numbers when you think you see them in the head, but you may need to wait a little longer. Once there has been more growth, the measurment error of 2 mm becomes less significant. If you think that you are seeing change, then trust yourself - there probaby is change. Plus, not all change shows up in those traditional measurements.

So, congratulate yourself for what improvement you are seeing. That is what really counts anyway.

, mom to , 2 3/4 years

STARband grad May 2009 Disappointed: Head growth, but no diagonal change...

So it's been 4 weeks now since Brody's been in his StarBand, and while I feel like we've seen a change, the orthotist took hand measurements yesterday indicating that his head grew 2-3 mm, but the plagio # is still at 8... Is that possible? I feel like if the head grows, it should be growing the right direction, am I wrong? I'm trying to be OK with possible human error in measuring, but after 4 weeks I really expected to see some significant change in the #. Granted, he's "mild," but for a mom who's dying to get this thing off of my baby's head, not seeing a number go down is really discouraging... How can I tell if this contraption is really working the way it's supposed to when there's no progression?

[Guest guest]

Yes, that is definitely possible. With 2-3mm growth in 4 weeks, I

would not expect the asymmetry number to necessarily go down with hand

measurements. Actually, I think it is likely it would not. Will you

have a scan soon? How old is your baby?

-Kathy, mom to turning 2, Starband for almost a year

wrote:

So it's been 4 weeks now since Brody's been in his StarBand, and

while I feel like we've seen a change, the orthotist took hand

measurements yesterday indicating that his head grew 2-3 mm, but the

plagio # is still at 8... Is that possible? I feel like if the head

grows, it should be growing the right direction, am I wrong? I'm trying

to be OK with possible human error in measuring, but after 4 weeks I

really expected to see some significant change in the #. Granted, he's

"mild," but for a mom who's dying to get this thing off of my baby's

head, not seeing a number go down is really discouraging... How can I

tell if this contraption is really working the way it's supposed to

when there's no progression?

[Guest guest]

The data do suggest that the helmet has been too loose to have an

effect thus far. Regarding how it's " supposed " to work, well, that

depends who's doing the supposition, doesn't it? It is normal for

Orthomerica to provide loose initial fit, but also normal for parents

to be disappointed at the lack of results.

Are there any indications that the helmet will *never* hold fast

against the asymmetry? How does the *orthotist* suppose the

contraption works, is the most important question. Does he aim to

produce pressure points on the ends of the long diagonal, or aim to

eliminate reactive hyperemia entirely? Has so much of the front end

been shaved away out of concern for the skin of the forehead that the

helmet just rotates away from would-be holding points? Those, along

with any reference to STARband as " passive, " are the hallmarks of

hopelessness as I know them.

--

Thad Launderville

Montpelier, VT

Clara age 2, STARband '10

On May 25, 2010, at 9:42 AM, wrote:

> So it's been 4 weeks now since Brody's been in his StarBand, and

> while I feel like we've seen a change, the orthotist took hand

> measurements yesterday indicating that his head grew 2-3 mm, but

> the plagio # is still at 8... Is that possible? I feel like if the

> head grows, it should be growing the right direction, am I wrong?

> I'm trying to be OK with possible human error in measuring, but

> after 4 weeks I really expected to see some significant change in

> the #. Granted, he's " mild, " but for a mom who's dying to get this

> thing off of my baby's head, not seeing a number go down is really

> discouraging... How can I tell if this contraption is really

> working the way it's supposed to when there's no progression?

>

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------

>

> For more plagio info