Plagiocephaly and Flat Head Syndrome STARband Treament. *

Many babies are born with abnormal head shapes which become misshapen during birth. Most new-born baby’s heads will revert to a normal shape within 6 weeks. If an abnormal shape persists, or occurs after 6 weeks it is important to seek a diagnosis. As a baby’s head is very malleable, repeated external pressure can cause skull deformities known as positional or deformational plagiocephaly. Cranial head remoulding is a technique used to correct abnormal head shapes. During the process, a special baby helmet is used to remould the shape of the skull. We’ll learn a lot more about baby helmets later, but first let’s find out a bit more about the conditions they are used to correct. Plagiocephaly is derived from the Greek words meaning “Oblique Head” it is the umbrella team for 3 types of positional head deformity which often require cranial head remoulding to correct. These are: a) Plagiocephaly b) Brachycephaly (Flat head syndrome) c) Scaphycephaly There are a number of common associated cosmetic and medical issues which are linked with Plagiocephaly, brachycephaly, flat head syndrome and scaphycephaly that is not treated using cranial head remoulding. These cosmetic and health issues are often wholly attributable to the area of flattening. These include: Cosmetic issues • Prominent bossed forehead • Parallelogram shaped head • No neck line • One ear shifted forwards in relation to the other • Wide head shape. • Asymmetric eyebrow and eye socket shape. • More prominent cheek bone on one side • Cone shaped head There are also some consequential physical problems that can occur due to the cosmetic changes. These can include: • Eyesight problems • Visual disturbances and difficulties • Inner ear problems • Ear and eye infections • Hearing problems • Headaches and migraines • Temperomandibular/jaw problems linked to chewing and eating. The need for cranial head remoulding using baby helmets appears to be on the rise. According to Dr Orlena Kerek, cited on the BBC website, “1 in 300 infants were affected with this condition in 1992, increasing to 1 in 60 in 1999”. Meanwhile, Argenta et al researched a study comparing periods 1990-1992 with 1992-1994 which demonstrated a fivefold increase in the incidence of positional plagiocephaly deformity and the need for cranial head remoulding. If you suspect your child has plagiocephaly, brachycephaly or flat head syndrome, Vitality in Motion offers a free assessment to determine your child’s diagnosis and the possible plagiocephaly treatments available. www.vitalityinmotion.co.uk During your assessment your cranial head remoulding specialist will ask a number of questions about: • Your pregnancy • Your labour • Your child’s first few months After this, a number of measurements will be taken of your child’s head, a diagnosis will be discussed with you and a course of action will be advised in order to treat your child. This could be in the form of repositioning techniques, advice on products, a STARband baby helmet or a combination of all three. For more information or if you would like to speak to one of our specialists please contact us. www.vitalityinmotion.co.uk