There are no exact numbers, although anecdotally the number of babies affected has increased significantly since the “Back to Sleep” campaign. Recent research suggests that almost 1 in 2 babies has positional plagiocephaly.
Patients with severely asymmetrical ears can develop bite anomalies. This is because the lower jaws mostly grow in the area of the jaw joints, which, in turn, are part of the boney complex of the inner ear.
Some doctors also report headaches or migraines, although a link has not been proven.
The condition causes aesthetic problems too, which can have psychosocial consequences in later life. Children and adolescents could be teased because of their unusual head shape. That is why the treatment is not merely “cosmetic” – a label that has angered many parents and therapists for years.
Ideally, repositioning (moving head whilst sleeping; tummy time whilst awake) should start as soon as the deformity is detected. This can be supported by physiotherapy to the neck. In some babies the deformity can be completely corrected by these simple measures. But if your baby’s head-shape does not improve, it is time to see one of our surgeons, ideally around 4 months.
Given an appropriate diagnosis, the ideal time to start helmet treatment for moderate and severe deformities is 4 to 6 months. After that, spontaneous correction is not likely to occur.
By 12 months, head growth has slowed so much that treatment only makes sense in exceptional circumstances. If treatment is started in the second year of life, full correction is often no longer possible.
Either as long as it takes to level out the deformity, or until further growth is not to be expected. Obviously, the seriousness of the deformity plays a decisive role, the more serious the deformity, the longer the treatment; and, the younger the patient, the shorter the treatment.
Average treatment for moderate deformities is about 6 months. However, treatment time and outcome will depend on many factors, on the age of the baby, severity and the helmet design. Length of treatment varies from patient to patient. Please do book an appointment to discuss it more in details with one of our surgeons.