Orthotic Care Services
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Orthotic Care Services | Helmet Program

 
 

Our process utilizes a collaborative team approach to address not only your child’s head shape but also neck strength and mobility concerns. We look at each child holistically to create an individualized treatment plan and determine the best actions moving forward. Decades of experience and applied learning have allowed us to design a comfortable and functional cranial remolding helmet. Our process and helmet design work together as a solution to improve your child’s head shape. The helmet is simply a tool that promotes head shape correction. We will follow your child throughout the treatment process to track correction.

Initial Evaluation/Scan

Positional Plagiocephaly is a type of head shape deformity (cephalic disorder) that presents in infants and results from forces on the head during its most rapid period of growth. As the head grows rapidly in early development, the cranial bones are pushed outward. When growth is limited in one direction (such as lying on a flat surface), growth will continue in the areas of least resistance. This process of deformation occurs over time and results in an asymmetrical or flattened head shape. Craniosynostosis is a rare type of head shape deformity. This is a birth defect where there is premature closure of the cranial sutures or growth plates.

Fitting Appointment (90 Minutes)

  • The helmet will be ready for the fitting appointment 8 business days after the Patient Treatment Plan form is returned.

  • You will be contacted by one of our patient care coordinators to schedule your child’s fitting appointment.

  • The fitting appointment will take place at one of the Orthotic Care Services clinics. This may be a different location from where you were evaluated.

  • The appointment will take 1.5 hours for a single child and 2-2.5 hours for twins. We will ensure proper fit and discuss use and care.

Follow-Up Appointments (30 Minutes)

  • We will see you every 2 to 3 weeks for follow-up appointments.

  • We will check the helmet fit, take measurements, and make any necessary adjustments.

  • These appointments will take 30 minutes for a single baby and 45 minutes for twins.

  • Occasionally, adjustment appointments may be needed to address any skin irritation that occur.

  • The follow-up appointments will continue until the goals are met or until no more correction is possible.

What to know about the Helmet Program →

  • The team will assess for a variety of head shape concerns and will determine a plan of care. No head is perfectly symmetrical, so understanding the degree and type of asymmetry is important in determining if treatment is indicated. Severity is determined by clinical appearance and head measurements:

    Cranial Vault Asymmetry (CVA): The difference between the left and right diagonal. This number indicates the degree of asymmetry. If the CVA is greater than 0.8-1.0 cm, a helmet may be recommended.

    Cephalic Index (CI): The ratio of width to length. The normal range is 80-85%. If the Cephalic Index is greater than 90%, a helmet may be recommended.

  • Cases of mild positional plagiocephaly can be addressed through repositioning techniques. This approach is most effective for infants less than 4 months of age. Repositioning techniques include increasing tummy time, varying positions in the crib, and limiting time with contact on the back of the head (bouncy seats, swings) when awake. When repositioning is ineffective at improving head shape by 4 months, helmet therapy should be considered.

  • Cases of moderate to severe positional plagiocephaly are treated with helmet therapy. The ideal time to start treatment is 4 to 6 months, but therapy can still be effective for children beyond 6 months of age.

  • A custom remolding helmet improves head shape by holding the prominent areas and guiding the future growth of the flat areas into the space within the helmet. It does not squeeze or push the head.

  • The Camio helmet by OCS is custom made for your child using a digital scanner that records head shape. It is completely safe and extremely accurate.

  • Helmet therapy improves head shape if there is head growth and the helmet is worn consistently for 23 hours per day.

  • 3 to 6 months

Our Outcomes