Infant Head Shape Help in Calgary Alberta

My son had plagiocephaly from about 1.5 months of age and onwards. This was in 2008 and early 2009. We live in Calgary, Alberta.  I didn't know what it was until I noticed his head shape was lopsided from the top view.

I brought this up with my family doctor who gave me the usual comments :

1.) it will go away on it's own

2.) his hair will cover it

These were not acceptable to me as a parent. So I had to dig deeper. After trying repositioning, at around 5 months of age, I decided to look for helmet therapy. 

The Calgary area has a course that teaches about repositioning techniques, but your child has to be under 4 months of age. Many people try repositioning on their own, and it works for some. For others, their child does not show improvement in the head shape, and sometimes it even worsens.

I heard from a friend about the Head Shape Clinic. I made a Dr. appointment again with the same family doctor and I insisted on a referral to the Head Shape Clinic. She agreed and I received a phone call from the Head Shape Clinic a few weeks later. 

Nowdays, I believe you can contact them yourself.

http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/services.asp?pid=service&rid=1012102

If you have a "From Here To Maternity" workbook, they have a section on head shape, and information on how to contact the Head Shape Clinic.

My son's head was assessed by a Physiotherapist, and by a Neurosurgeon. The therapist said he didn't really need physiotheraphy. The neurosurgeon said his head shape was moderately abnormal. She was on the fence as to whether he needed a helmet and she suggested we come back in a few weeks.

The thing is, the earlier you get the helmet, the sooner the head shape can be corrected. And the shorter the time the helmet needs to be worn. I came back a few weeks later and she said again that they were on the fence with needing the helmet and to come back again. I thought this was a waste of time. I knew what I wanted. I wanted my child in the helmet so I wouldn't be worrying about repositioning, and head shape etc... 

What the neurosurgeon basically said was that they were not the helmet police, and that it was ultimately up to the parents to decide on helmet therapy. I took this as my opportunity to ask for the helmet. She said that was fine, and they made an appointment to scan my son's head for a helmet fit.

So if you think your child needs a helmet and you have met with the Head Shape Clinic, then you can tell them this is what you think is best for your child, and they seem willing to cooperate. I am not saying this decision should be made on your own, but if you think your child needs medical help, then you have to be assertive and seek out the therapy.

It was $1,500 from our pockets ( which our health care insurance re-imbursed thankfully) 

and the Alberta Government paid the other $1,500. 

I believe the brand was Starband. 

We had to wait approximately 4 weeks for the helmet to arrive from the States and be fitted. Then we came in every 2 or 3 weeks to check on the fitting. 

My son wore it from 7.5 months to 11 months of age. It wasn't easy but it was worth it. As many say, the time in the helmet goes by quickly. The results were okay. The flatness didn't go away perfectly, as I didn't expect, but I am glad I went ahead with it.

I wish I had known about plagiocephaly in advance. But this blog entry is intended to give information about how one person's experience in addressing the problem in the city of Calgary, dealt with it in 2008/2009. 

There is a study going on by a University of Calgary researcher. She has a blog with scientific information on this topic at a local level.

http://plagiocephaly.ucalgaryblogs.ca/