PARENTS DELIGHT AS THEY FIND TREATMENT FOR FLAT HEAD SYNDROME

Parents Gemma and John Meenaghan from Poundhill in Crawley were overjoyed when their son Callum was born on 23rd February 2007. They were thankful that there had been no complications during the pregnancy or birth and they had a beautiful healthy son.

At the age of three months, Gemma noticed that Callum was developing an unusual shaped head, which appeared to be flat on the right-hand side and was bulging on the left.  After discussing her concerns with her husband John, they decided to make an appointment with their local GP.

The GP explained to the couple that Callum was suffering from a condition called flat head syndrome, also known as plagiocephaly, and that it would probably right itself in time. He advised the couple on repositioning techniques to prevent Callum lying on his right hand side and referred Gemma and John to a specialist. "Our concerns heightened when our GP said Callum’s hair would cover the shape as he got older!" Gemma said; "But we took his advise onboard."

The couple visited a Paediatric Specialist at Crawley Hospital when Callum was four-months-old, who yet again assured them that the condition was common in new born babies and he had no underlying medical problems and that it should correct itself.

After three months of numerous visits to physiotherapists, and various repositioning exercises, the Meenaghans saw no improvement in the shape of Callum’s head.

Gemma said: "We knew there was a helmet treatment available that assists in correcting the condition, but at this stage we knew little else about it."

She continues; "We had already been informed by the physio that the NHS would not help with the cost treatment of plagiocephaly, but we felt that Callum’s condition was becoming worse and we needed to do something."

It was at this stage that the Meenaghans began to research plagiocephaly on the internet and came across the Ossur.co.uk website.  Gemma said; "The website provided all the information we needed. We could not believe how other parents’ stories mirrored our own experiences with Callum and we soon made an appointment at the centre in Wimbledon to find out more."

Callum was just eight-months-old when he began the treatment, which involves wearing the STARband™ helmet.  Callum took to the helmet straight away and didn’t mind wearing it almost 24 hours a day. Gemma added; "The helmet even became a great aid as a form of protection when he began to crawl!"

Sally Hunt, Prosthetist/Orthotist at the Technology In Motion centre in Wimbledon commented; "During his treatment Callum responded really well to the STARband, which works by creating a pathway for the child’s head to grow to a more symmetrical shape as it develops. We have noted a remarkable change in the shape of his head."

Now 13-months-old, Callum is in the end stages of the treatment.  Gemma said; "John and I have noticed a remarkable difference since Callum began wearing the helmet. After only 4 months of treatment, Callum has already reached his target, which is fantastic. We cannot believe that his head has gone from such a severe shape to looking so normal in such a short time."

Gemma continues; "From the very first point of contact with Technology In Motion, the experience has been nothing short of professional.  Providing Callum with the helmet is the best thing we could have done and we are so happy to have been given the help and advice by the centre to prevent Callum from having a severely misshapen head for the rest of his life."