What can I expect during helmet therapy?Ī baby's head shape is measured, and a custom-fitted helmet is designed. A referral is to someone who is trained to properly measure and fit the helmet is necessary. What is the first step to get a helmet?Ī pediatrician may recommend a helmet after evaluating your baby's head shape. Torticollis causes the baby's neck to turn in a twisted position, which makes the baby's head to tilt one way and the chin to point the other way. This occurs when the baby's neck muscles are tighter and more contracted on one side. Torticollis, which is present in about 20% of babies with positional flattening. Physical therapy and stretching and strengthening exercises are especially helpful for babies with But not correcting it may affect the child's social If an infant has moderate or severe positional skull deformity that doesn't respond to changing positions, or if the baby is older, helmet therapy may be prescribed.Ī positional skull deformity does not affect a child's brain development or cause any other medical condition. If the condition is not severe, changing your baby's usual positions or starting physical therapy may help. Is helmet therapy the only treatment for a child with a positional skull deformity? Some children with craniosynostosis may have other Craniosynostosis requires surgery and may be followed by helmet therapy. In some cases, the brain growth may be affected, as well. As the brain grows in a child with craniosynostosis, the shape of the head becomes abnormal as the brain pushes out on the other parts of the skull. They are caused by pressure on the skull when an infant spends a lot of time in one position.Ĭraniosynostosis. This condition is caused when bony plates in the skull are abnormally fused together. Deformational plagiocephaly, brachycephaly and NICUcephaly are three conditions that cause a baby's skull shape to change. What conditions cause a baby to need a helmet? To work, molding helmets must be worn during the time when the skull and brain are actively growing. Helmets will not help after brain growth is done, and three-fourths of brain growth happens by age 2. They also allow some flexibility and space so that the brain can grow. Sutures help the skull protect the baby's brain. The plates are joined by fiber-like pieces called sutures. Helmet therapy (also called helmet orthosis) is a treatment that's prescribed to help mold the baby's skull into shape.īabies skulls are made of many bony plates. But if a baby's skull shape seems different, he or she may need helmet therapy. Babies grow fast, and their heads are made for this quick growth.įlexible skulls can protect a baby's growing brain, which roughly doubles in size during the first year.

Misshapen head