Late start?

[Layla'smomE]

Layla is nearly 14 months & Doc decided it was time for helmet therepy. Thought it might correct on it's own after surgery, but, alas, it did not. Just wondering if anyone else got their helmet this "late" and how their kiddos adjusted. As I'm sure you are all well aware, these kids tend to get their own opinion at this age & I'm just a bit worried that Layla is going to be miserable. Any ideas? Info, etc?
Thanks!:ugh

[dannlark]

Are they thinking it would coinside with the next surgery when they open up some more sutures?? I think it's a bit odd, but then, I'm no surgeon. Are they sure that the sutures that were opened with the first surgery are still opened? Did you have another CT?? Keep us posted... And hang in there...

[Avery's Mom]

We tried helmet therapy before Avery's surgery, so not much help here. I would pose the same questions as Larkin though about a new CT scan to be sure the sutures are still open?

As for adjusting to it Avery went into his at 14 months and wore it for 4 months and after the first week was pretty much oblivious to it.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[Layla'smomE]

we haven't had a new CT. Doc Genecov (PS) told us that after the last surgery that they (he & Doc Weprin, the NS) believed that her head would round out in the back on its own, but that sometimes with multiple sutures the head tends to have a "memory" & sometimes will try to revert to the pre-surgical shape. Doc Genecov thinks it may be her positioning that is keeping things from progressing. I understand why he thinks that, but knowing Layla's sleeping habits, I don't believe that's it. The idea, Larkin, is that the helmet therapy will be independent from any surgical procedures. He still believes that this can be corrected without further surgeries. . . . I hope so.
if there is no improvement from helmet therapy, doc Genecov will probably consider another CT. One thing I respect in him is that he HATES to do unnecessary testing on these kids. So, I guess time will tell. As soon as the insurance approves the helmet from STARbands, we'll get her scanned for the fitting & whatnot. Doc Genecov said 6 months in the helmet. Poor baby hasn't even been swimming this summer yet! :(

[tracy_girl05]

O Layla-- hang in there girly! I have no advice fo ryou on this but I just wanted you to know that I am thinking of you guys.

[AuburnLocks]

My guess is she'll adjust in no time. I remember the helmet technician we worked with saying that the older kids did just fine in them but that the adjustment period was more like a week, rather than a day like with the little ones.

And you can totally take off the helmet to go swimming and that sort of thing. Don't let it limit you too much. Ours had to be on 23 hours a day but that 1 hour off could be broken up into little chunks so we would sometimes take it off for a break if it was really hot or for a car ride if he was fussy. WE also took it off for swimming lessons once a week and I never worried about it too much.

Good luck! I hope you can avoid another surgery. I can only imagine the stress of worrying about that. Hang in there.

[cheryl2]

Clara's doc also thought she wouldn't need a helmet after surgery, then changed his mind. Clara started helmet therapy at 13 months and wore the helmet till about 18 months. I thought it would be a hard adjustment,but it really wasn't. She adjusted within a few days. She will be fine :)