Helmet Progress Pics

[AuburnLocks]

Figured I would get this forum some action by posting progress pictures. These were taken 7 weeks after starting helmet therapy for Plagiocephaly. We've definitely seen a lot of improvement with the height difference, asymmetry and the prominent occipital area has rounded out a bit and back has widened a tiny bit. He still has a long head and always will but we're happy overall.

For all you head pickers out there ....enjoy our mug shots!

http://craniokids.org/support/album.php?albumid=44&pictureid=658
http://craniokids.org/support/album.php?albumid=44&pictureid=660
http://craniokids.org/support/album.php?albumid=44&pictureid=659

Gotta say, the helmet place does a great job with these pictures. They have it down to a science. They also do these cool 3D scans instead of the traditional casting so they have this 3D floating animated baby head picture that is hilarious. He looks like a robot in it. I'll have to see if they will give me a copy of that when we graduate.

[Elizabeth]

Wow! Patrick looks AMAZING!!

[mckennasmum]

that's amazing progress, so happy to hear its working so well!

[Tawnia]

Wow he's looking great!

[Abby'sMom]

Thanks so much for sharing! Abby has had the 3-D scans...they are so cool. We were given copies that I posted several months ago after she was 2 months into helmet therapy. I couldn't believe the difference in just 2 months. She just had another scan for her third and final helmet and I'm hoping to get a copy of that as well. I put the 2 month "top view" scan in Abby's montage because it was so dramatic.

Your little man is looking mighty handsome...Abby may be hoping he asks her to the prom someday!
:yes

[spoongirl10]

He's so cute!! It's amazing the technology these days. Can you imagine we didn't have these things?

[Seagrape]

Wow.......he looks great!!! They do the same scanning for leah...I can't wait to see our first updates. Leah's been in her helmet 5 weeks today. We can see some changes already but she still has a ways to go.

[Amy K]

GREAT progress!! That is awesome!

[Wyatt's Mom]

WOW! I think he looks awesome. That helmet is doing a great job on his head.

[dannlark]

Awesome!! It really is amazing how well those helmets work, huh? How much longer for your little one? Thanks for sharing!!

[AuburnLocks]

Thanks everyone!

We think he has another 4-6 weeks or so. He has gone from 12mm of cranial vault asymmetry to 7mm. The cephalic index has also improved but I don't remember those measurements. I know he was considered pretty outside the norm initially and he still is, but just by a little bit now. His head is still really big, holding steady at a little over 90th percentile, he is 50th for height and weight up from 25th percentile initially, so it doesn't look quite so out of proportion anymore.

Anyway, if insurance covers it he gets fitted for his second and final helmet in about a week and then we just keep going until we are satisfied with the results. I think the most dramatic difference has already happened since he has had a big growth spurt, but we should get a little bit more correction and rounding out. Right now, the asymmetry is only noticeable if you are really looking for it, or if you hold him up to a mirror. And the back of his head, while still big, is not nearly as noticeable as it was before. I just was saying to someone the other day, that if his head looked like it does now I never would have taken him to the doctor in the first place, but it would be silly to not just do the second helmet and finish what we started so we can put the whole thing behind us.

I'm really glad we did it. And for anyone starting helmet therapy out there...it really hasn't been that bad at all. I'm sure it would have been more difficult if he was older but at this age they adjust so quickly. It is a much harder adjustment for the parents than for the baby in my opinion. Besides the hassle of cleaning it and the minor annoyance of getting a face full of plastic when you lean in for a head snuggle we honestly forget about it about 95% of the time. It is so much a part of him that when we first take it off for bath or pool time I think he looks funny without it for the first few minutes. Oh..and there is the added benefit of head protection while he was learning to sit and crawl. Not the intended purpose, but it doesn't hurt! We've definitely avoided a few bumps and bruises over the last couple of months.

Anyway, I know I'm not a cranio mama so thanks for letting me hang around and post updates anyway. If anyone every has questions about helmet therapy in general or about Cranial Technologies specifically i would be happy to chat any time.

Thanks again!
Amy

[twinmom]

wow, he's really looking amazing. I am amazed of what a helmet can do with plagio.

So now I wonder why they do not use this treatment in Denmark. My very good friend has twins, the both have quite severe plagio, and the doctor says sorry, nothing we can do to help...

Well again, I think it is wonderfull that he made such a progress with the helmet

[Alison]

he is looking amazing!

[three.little.boys]

A-MAZ-ING!!! He is looking so great!! That helmet sure is working....aren;t you glad you didn't have to have the surgery??? Thanks for posting these.