HANGER CLINIC CAP PROGRAM CRANIAL ASYMMETRY
The Hanger Clinic Cranial Asymmetry Protocol (CAP) Program is built around your child s needs and a set of clearly defined clinical practice guidelines. You can find out more at: HangerClinic.com/CranialAsymmetry
CRANIAL ASYMMETRY No child (or adult) has a perfectly symmetrical head but there are ranges, just like in your child s growth chart, of normal development. During your child s evaluation some asymmetry or flattening in their head shape has been identified. This is not something you may have expected but it is completely treatable. The medical terms used to describe cranial asymmetries are listed within this document with simple drawings to illustrate. Since the inception of the Back to Sleep campaign and other social trends including multiple births and the use of carrying seats there has been an increase in the number of cranial anomalies. Since babies heads are still soft and growing quickly, the best time to take corrective steps is during the first few month of life. Your health care provider will have determined the level of severity and the most appropriate treatment path. Whether your baby needs some extra tummy time, repositioning or a cranial band there is a lot that can be done to correct the asymmetry. In order to start the cranial band treatment, it is important to evaluate neck strength, range of motion, as well as developmental levels. Once the clinician determines this is adequate, the sooner the treatment can begin, the earlier you will see the results. Typically a cranial band will be worn for three to six months.
CLASSIFICATIONS OF CRANIAL ASYMMETRY Plagiocephaly (pley-jee-oh-sef-uh-lee) is the most common form of cranial asymmetry and presents most commonly as flat spots on the back of the head, or occasionally on the front. Some of the classical signs include: Forehead protrudes slightly on one side Back (or front) of head protrudes in one place Eyes and ears may be misaligned
Brachycephaly (brak-i-sef-uh-lee) presents as a disproportionately wide head. Some of the classical signs include: Baby s head appears wider and uniformly flat across the back Height of baby s head looks taller than normal Scaphocephaly (skaf-oh-sef-uh-lee) presents as a disproportionately long head. Some of the classical signs include: Elongated shape from front to back Head appears narrow Commonly seen in premature baby s that have spent time in the NICU
NEXT STEPS Before you pursue treatment options you may want to connect with other parents with babies in a similar situation to you. CappsKids.org is a great resource to get information, check in with parents locally and nationally, and get perspectives and answers from other parents. There are lots of ways to help prevent the asymmetry from getting worse. Try to ensure that you vary the position of your baby during everyday activities such as playing, feeding, carrying, etc. To get a guide on how best to do these visit HangerClinic.com/CranialAsymmetry or call 1-877-4HANGER to access resources to help you. If you or your healthcare providers would like your child to get a free evaluation you can contact your local Hanger Clinic or call 1-877-4HANGER to make an appointment. Hanger Clinic can provide a complimentary baseline scan that provides accurate and reliable measurements that can be used for future evaluations.
A CRANIAL BAND If your baby has moderate to severe cranial asymmetry and your healthcare professional determines that your baby requires a cranial band - Hanger Clinic can help. You can set up an appointment by contacting your local office. Find the clinic closest to you by visiting HangerClinic.com/Locations. Your first visit is a complimentary evaluation, where you can meet with the orthotist and get an initial scan of your child s head. There is no cost for this initial evaluation, even if you decide not to pursue treatment. All patient care clinics use a range of bed and handheld scanners that produce accurate images in seconds. These scanning procedures are completely safe for your child using photographic type technologies. The Scan images show a baby s head before and after treatment with a cranial band. A cranial band is worn for 23 hours a day. It is designed to allow the baby s head to form into a natural shape as they grow. The best time to start treatment with a cranial band is between 4 and 7 months but it can be used up until 18 months of age. Babies adjust remarkably quickly to the newness of the band and continue with their physical activities, especially growing. Hanger Clinic will also provide an end-of-treatment scan so you can see the before and after images in a single-sheet, easy-to-read report. This can be shared with your other healthcare providers and family. Cranial bands are usually covered by insurance. In fact, over 82% of all cranial bands are covered.
More information is available at: HangerClinic.com/CranialAsymmetry or call 1-877-4HANGER. CappsKids.org I didn t want to wait and see if her head would round out on its own. Four months old was a good time to start. She had a growth spurt and was done before I knew it. She really didn t react to it at all. Honestly, I don t think she realized she had it on! I m glad I did it when I did. - Christine O. (Erin s mom) 1-877-4HANGER HangerClinic.com Facebook.com/HangerNews Twitter.com/HangerNews YouTube.com/HangerNews MKTB-1804 2015 Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics, Inc.