Tag Archives: Flat Head Syndrome

Does using a Helmet to correct a plagiocephaly affect a Baby’s Brain?

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We often have parents come and see us who are concerned that the misshaping of their baby’s head will have an affect on their brain.

TiMband helmetThe good news is that plagiocephaly does not affect brain development. Head size is dependent on the brain size; head shape is dependent on external forces which can either deform or reform. To gain a better understanding of how your baby’s brain does develop, here is a brief look at the growing process it goes through from conception to birth and beyond.

The brain is a most forgiving organ with huge opportunity to make new connections all through life. Throughout history, cultures and civilisations have been deliberately modifying the head shape of infants for tribal, cultural or hierarchy reasons. The current issue with head shape deformation is that the ‘odd’ shape that develops in the first few months of life is an unintended consequence of an infant lying in one position for too long, creating a flattening as the head develops.

A baby’s brain grows and develops from conception and at birth the brain is about a quarter of the size of an adult brain. By this time it has millions of cells, synapses and connections and is at its most ‘plastic’ ready to continue growing and learning.  Before birth, babies are already learning, developing the nerve connections to muscles, heart and all their senses like touch, hearing, taste and sight. Therefore, at birth we are ready to breathe, cry, suck and even recognise our mother’s voice.

In the first 6 months, a baby’s brain doubles in size before doubling again in the next six months. This amazing growth rate is accompanied by developing connections to allow the processing of a huge amount of new information and experiences to form a firm foundation for early and adult life.

As the brain grows, the skull must remain flexible to accommodate this rapid amount of growth and all the sutures remain open and the bones of the skull remain flexible, gradually becoming firmer right through to and beyond the point of skeletal maturity at age eighteen to twenty. This is when the long bones in our body have stopped growing and the hormonal changes that happen during puberty have run their course.

Bones do remain plastic and there is continual bone reformation throughout life, which is how bones can heal when they are broken. The skull can also continue to change and the ultimate head shape depends on the start point. Sadly, many infants develop such a severe head shape deformity that they will never be able to get back to a normal skull shape.

When we fit a TiMband helmet to a baby, we allow growth to continue at a normal rate. What the helmet does is to allow the growth to be directed where we need it to, to bring about a greatly improved, corrected, more normal head shape. By doing this early in life, we give the babies that we treat a massively improved opportunity to develop normally and to be able to engage in all activities that require head protection, such as cycling, skiing, horse riding and in adult life, motor cycling, coasteering, being a surgeon, join the military, the police, or working in construction.

We know that we give the babies that we treat the opportunity to become the people that they are meant to be and enable them to have opportunities that they may not be able to if their head shape was not within the normal range.

plagiocephalyThe gentle, soft cell lining inside the helmets corrects the head shape as the brain grows in such a way that is safe for the baby and pain free. You can read more about our TiMband Treatment on our website.

 

National Childbirth Trust Advice on Plagiocephaly and Brachycephaly

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The National Childbirth Trust has just issued advice on plagiocephaly and brachycephaly.
Technology in Motion endorses the advice given and recognises that milder cases will self resolve adequately, however the majority of the infants that we see have very severe head shape deformities which will never self correct, nor will hair cover the plagiocephaly adequately without intervention.
The full text can be found at: http://www.nct.org.uk/parenting/what-flat-head-syndrome-plagiocephaly-or-brachycephalys and here are the opening paragraphs of the advice.
What is flat head syndrome (plagiocephaly or brachycephaly)?
This article looks at ‘flat head syndrome’ outlining symptoms, possible causes and treatment.

Flat head syndrome is the name given to the condition when part of a baby’s head becomes flattened due to continued pressure on one spot. There are two types of flat head syndromes in babies.

  • Plagiocephaly – This is a flattening on one side of a baby’s head. Its most common form is ‘positional plagiocephaly’, which happens when a baby’s head develops a flat area due to continued pressure on one side of their head. Babies are most vulnerable because their skull is soft and pliable when they’re born.
  • Brachycephaly – This refers to the condition where a baby’s head is disproportionately wide compared to its depth. It can happen when babies lie for long periods on their backs. This causes the whole of the back of their head to flatten, resulting in a much wider and shorter head. Brachycephaly is less common.

Surveys show the proportion of babies affected by positional plagiocephaly ranges from 16% at six weeks, 20% at four months7% at 12 months to 3% at 24 months.

Why are some babies affected?

Babies’ skulls are made up of several plates of bone which are loosely held together. As they grow older the bones will gradually join. However, during birth and for the first few months their skulls are very soft and their shape can be changed by gentle pressure. In some babies continued pressure on one area of the skull may lead to some form of flat head syndrome.

Symptoms

  • Flat area on back or one side of the head.
  • Bulging on one side of the head.
  • One ear more forward than the other.
  • Unbalanced look to the face.

    Possible causes

    It is thought that  there has been an increase in babies with flat head syndrome following the successful ‘Back to sleep’ campaign, which advises laying babies on their backs to sleep. Research studies do not bear this out but there is certainly more awareness of the condition.

    The number of babies who have died due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome(SIDS) has halved as a result of this campaign. However, laying babies on their back to sleep, combined with the use of baby equipment which has babies leaning back onto their heads for periods of time, such as car seats and bouncers, can lead to babies spending more time on their backs than ever before. It must be stressed that the benefits of laying your baby on his back to sleep far outweigh the risks of flat head syndrome (see articles on ‘Your baby’s sleep‘).

    Babies who have their head turned one way most of the time, perhaps because of an uncomfortable neck are more likely to develop a flattened head.

    Other possible causes could include:

    • Sometimes a baby’s skull may be moulded whilst in the womb. There may not be enough amniotic fluid to cushion the baby, which means his head can become temporarily deformed as he travels down the birth canal. Also, this can happen as part of a multiple birth as the babies become squashed within the womb. This sort of moulding tends to correct itself without treatment.
    • Premature babies are more likely to have an unusual head shape at first because their skulls are less developed.
    • Muscular problems – sometimes a baby will have tightened muscles in their neck (torticollis), which prevents them from turning their head one way and means they will always rest their head on the other side, causing this to flatten.
    • Craniosynostosis – rarely a flattened skull can come about by the bone plates within the baby’s skull joining together too soon. This can pull the baby’s head out of shape and will need to be corrected with surgery, so its worth checking with your GP if you are concerned about the shape of your baby’s head.

      Are some babies more at risk than others?

      This condition shows up most often in babies who:

      • are first born
      • have unusually large heads
      • are premature, twins or multiple births
      • have had an assisted birth (forceps or ventouse)
      • have limited ability to turn their head or torticollis (tight or shortened muscle on one side of the neck, causing the chin to tilt to the other side).

      There are other factors which are open to change including:

      • Caring for the baby on one side all the time
      • Not enough  ‘tummy time’ or carrying where there is no pressure on the head
      • Baby’s preference for turning their head to one side.

        What can be done to help?

        Doctors recommend that your baby is not left on his back for too long or too often, as this can create pressure on the same areas of his head.

        Plagiocephaly Self Assessment App.

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        We see many parents who have been told that their baby’s plagiocephaly is mild but when we take objective measurements at an assessment, we find that there is often quite a severe deformity which is very unlikely to correct without some help. So, to help parents to make an informed decision, over the last year our web designers have been working hard on a new and unique Plagiocephaly Self Assessment Application tool to help parents to decide just how severe their baby’s plagiocephaly is.
        The application his is based on our plagiocephaly severity chart. This has also been developed over the last year and is based on our experience and understanding of the different nature of brachycephaly and plagiocephaly.
        To inform parents, the application shows the before and after head shapes for a group of infants who we have treated. Each one has achieved an outstanding result and we have included before and after images. Sadly, we can’t bring the more extreme head shapes back to full normality as we have to start with the shape that we are given, but we know that we can and do make a huge change to these infant’s head shapes which definitely would not happen without our help.
        The application works best with Google Chrome, Windows Explorer 9 and above, Firefox, Mozilla, Safari and Opera which are all able to manage the high graphic aspects of the Application.

        What Causes Flat Head in Babies?

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        What Causes Flat Heads in Babies

        Flat head syndrome is a condition that can appear at any time from birth, but it tends to take a few weeks or months to become apparent. Sometimes parents or health professionals notice that their baby’s head seems to have an altered shape with part of it appearing to be flat. If the flattening is severe enough, there can be asymmetry in the face and forehead with and one ear further forward than the other. There are a number of medical terms for this, including plagiocephaly, brachycephaly or scaphocephaly. Here we will discuss what causes flat head in babies.

        There are many different issues that can cause a flat head in babies, but they all stem from the fact that babies are born with soft skulls. Before a baby is born, the bone structure is not firm, but has to be soft and flexible to allow the head to descend through the birth canal. The bone plates in the head are not fused, but are held together with cranial sutures, which are essentially elastic tissues which need to be flexible to allow the brain to grow. Because the bones don’t fuse until the baby is a toddler, it means that the shape of the baby’s skull can be affected by a number of factors.

        For example, the way that babies lay in the womb can affect their skull shape. This is especially the case with multiple births where there is less room for babies to move around. It is the same for babies when there is not much amniotic fluid in the womb. Because the skull strengthens considerably in the last few weeks of pregnancy as mineralisation occurs, premature babies tend to have much softer skulls which are more prone to becoming misshapen.

        However, flat head syndrome most commonly occurs because of the baby’s sleeping position. This can be due to the very good advice to put babies to sleep on their backs or it can be due to a tight neck muscle on one side, called torticollis. The excellent ‘Back to Sleep’ advice has radically reduced instances of cot death. However, if the baby is positioned on their back for too long either in a cot, on the floor or on a firm baby carrier can result in the development of flat head syndrome. In mild cases, this will probably correct without clinical intervention and up to the age of four months it’s best to treat all babies simply through repositioning techniques. For example, babies can be encouraged to move their head by relocating mobiles and toys.

        During the day when they are awake and parents are with them, it’s a good idea to place babies on their tummy which relieves pressure on the affected flattened part. Tummy time is a great form of exercise for your child and allows them to develop muscles in the hips and spinal extensors.

        If you don’t see an improvement in your baby’s head shape after a month, it is best to seek advice from a medical professional who can suggest other possible interventions. These can include physiotherapy to increase the range of movement through to specialised bespoke helmets which will use normal growth to gently reshape the skull.

        These helmets gently help the skull reform into the correct shape as the baby’s head continues to grow and fuse. The helmets are custom-made so that they fit each child perfectly and they are lined with soft foam to keep the babies comfortable. Babies are also reviewed regularly to ensure that they are responding properly to treatment.

        In many cases, flat head syndrome can be corrected by repositioning, but more severe cases may need further intervention. It is important to realise that babies’ the growth needed to bring about correction is minimal when they reach about eighteen months, so it’s important not to delay seeking advice.

        Plagiocephaly Infographic

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        Parents often ask us what can be done to minimise plagiocephaly. So to help and to use as an education tool, we have produced a Plagiocephaly Infographic to explain how plagiocephaly develops and what should be done to minimise and treat the condition. We are sure that parents and clinicians will find it useful.

        Plagiocephaly Infographic Childers Head Shape & Size Technology In Motion TiM

        How to Recognise Signs and Symptoms of Plagiocephaly and/or Torticollis

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        Symptoms of Flat Head Syndrome

        When your baby was only a few weeks old, you first noticed how he seemed to cock his head whenever he looked at you. When you watched him in other situations, you realised this was his customary posture. When you tried gently to move his head away from his shoulder, he cried as though you were causing him pain.
        Looking back at your photo’s you notice that his head is always in the same position and he doesn’t seem to turn to the other side much. Here we discuss recognising the symptoms of Plagiocephaly.

        Does this sound familiar? Your baby may suffer from what doctors call muscular torticollis or wryneck, a condition caused by spasms in the sternocleidomastoid muscle of the neck that cause the muscle on one side to contract. An infant or child with this condition appears to be tilting her head to one side while rotating his or her chin in the opposite direction. If you have witnessed any of these symptoms or suspect that your child may be affected by torticollis, it is advisable to seek medical help to confirm the diagnosis. Paediatricians estimate that up to 2 per cent of all infants may suffer from some degree of torticollis.

        Sternocleidomastoid contracture is often the result of intrauterine positioning or a traumatic birth. When a baby is crowded so tightly into the uterus that he or she can’t move, contractures may develop and range of motion may be affected. Babies who are delivered with forceps, breach babies and multiples are all at higher risk of developing this condition. Torticollis is also rarely associated with infections and cervical abnormalities which your paediatrician will need to rule out before treatment can begin.

        Untreated, torticollis can give rise to a host of problems in later life including facial and muscular asymmetry, visual disturbances, a delay in acquiring gross motor skills, and plagiocephaly or flat head syndrome, a persistent flat spot on your baby’s head.

        While not every infant who shows signs and symptoms of plagiocephaly has problems with neck muscles, most infants with problematic neck muscles do go on to develop plagiocephaly because of their inability to move their heads. When your baby has flat head syndrome, you will notice that either the back or one side of her skull has sparser hair than the rest of his or her head, and that the underlying area appears to be flattened.

        Flat head syndrome occurs when an infant spends too much time in one position. Infants’ heads are soft to facilitate the remarkable brain growth that takes place during the first two years of life. When one side of an infant’s head spends too much time resting against a flat surface, the skull can actually be moulded. Other causes of flat head syndrome include intrauterine positioning and spending too much time lying supine. When the Foundation for Sudden Infant Deaths (FSIDS)publicised guidelines to recommend that infants younger than one year old always be put to sleep on their backs, paediatricians saw a striking rise in plagiocephaly incidence.

        The treatment for torticollis often involves physiotherapy. The therapist will work on exercises that gently stretch the sternocleidomastoid muscle to increase range of motion. Parents will be given a program of exercises that they can do with their baby at home.

        Flat head syndrome can often be corrected by simply repositioning a baby’s head so that he or she is never lying on the flat spot. In severe cases, a custom-moulded helmet will improve the head towards a more normal and acceptable shape.

        How to Treat a Baby with a Flat Head (Plagiocephaly)

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        Treatment for Flat Head Syndrome

        Plagiocephaly, commonly known as flat head syndrome, is the medical term for a condition that affects as many as two out of every ten babies. Flat head syndrome develops when a baby repeatedly lies in the same position. This can occur when parents aren’t aware that they need to change an infant’s position during the day or because of problems with neck muscles. An infant’s skull is so soft that flat surfaces can actually mould the shape of an infant’s head. Since 1992 when the American Paediatric Society began recommending that infants sleep on their backs to prevent SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), paediatricians have seen a six-fold increase in flat head syndrome. This experience is reflected in the UK since this advice was adopted. Babies must always be placed on their backs to sleep and this has saved thousands of lives. During the day when they’re awake and Mum is with them, babies should be placed on their tummies and pressure relieved from the back of the head.

        Plagiocephaly may be associated with brachycephaly, a type of flat head syndrome where the head shape is very wide and the flattening appears across the back of the head. With brachycephaly, the back of an infant’s head flattens uniformly, causing the crown to be wider and taller while the distance between temples and chin may be longer. Brachycephaly is also classified as flat head syndrome, and responds to many of the same interventions.

        Parents are usually the first to be aware of flat head syndrome. They may notice a flat spot on the back or side of their infant’s head where hair growth is noticeably sparser. Their baby’s ears may not be symmetrically aligned or some other facial asymmetry may be present. When torticollis, a tight neck muscle is a factor, a baby’s head may appear to be tilted to one side the much of the time.

        In the vast majority of cases, plagiocephaly caused by a restrictive sleeping position responds to simple therapies. Yet the diagnosis itself can be so intimidating that some parents may be frightened of interacting with their babies in a normal way that includes tummy time and playing to relieve pressure on the flat spot. A baby with a flat head is no more fragile than any other baby.

        Repositioning techniques are the best intervention for simple flat head syndrome. You’ll want to position your baby in his or her crib so that the affected side is not lying flat. When your baby is lying down, encourage active turning of the head by hanging a mobile or some other bright object where the baby will want to look at it. Limit the time your child spends in car seats, carriers and pushchairs with flat backboards that press up against his or her head. When holding, feeding, or carrying your baby make sure to reposition so that the flat spot is not pressing against you. Slings and other baby carriers which position your baby’s face towards your body benefit a baby with a flat head by decreasing the amount of time spent with pressure to the back of the head.

        Some parents misinterpret the Foundation for Sudden Infant Death (FSID) guidelines to mean a baby should never be placed on the tummy. This is simply not the case. Supervised tummy time is good for your baby. Tummy time helps babies develop control of their head and neck muscles and overall hip and spine development, it also encourages bonding, particularly if you are comfortable enough to get down and interact. Try putting your baby’s rattle and toys just out of reach so he or she is encouraged to reach for them.

        More severe cases of flat head syndrome may require physiotherapy and/or a corrective helmet. If your interventions don’t seem to be working, research the alternatives which will be able to help.

        TiMband Treatment for Plagiocephaly

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        TiMband

        PlagioCare treatment now known as TiMband

        PlagioCare treatment will now be known in the UK and Ireland as the TiMband.

        PlagioCare has been in existence for three years and has successfuly treated thousands of infants in the UK and Europe.

        We believe it is the best plagiocephaly or flat head syndrome treatment system available due to its rapid results, lightweight helmet style, brilliant child friendly photographic scanner and final verification of treatment for all parents with before and after scans with software to review at home. The treatment is exactly the same, it’s only the name that is changing.