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Plagiocephaly or ‘flat head syndrome’ literally
means ‘crooked head’, and is a term used to
define an abnormally shaped head.
Deformational plagiocephaly refers only
to those rare cases caused by external factors
which put pressure on the bones of your baby’s
skull and alter its shape.
The skull is actually formed of a number of different
bones which are not tightly joined together when
a baby is born; they generally fuse together by
about 24 months of age.
This allows the baby’s head to be
moulded during the birth and also leaves lots of
space for the growing brain.
Amazingly by the time your baby is just
12 months old their brain will already have
reached 90% of adult size.
With this incredible fact in mind you can
understand the huge importance of monitoring
your baby’s head growth.
By the age of about 6 weeks your baby’s head shape
should have normalised following birth.
Any abnormal shaping or asymmetry noted
after this could be plagiocephaly.
It is not a common problem, with less
that 1% of babies thought to suffer with this
condition. However the number of cases has been
seen to rise since the early 1990s.
The predominant cause of this rise in
cases is thought to be due to babies spending
extended periods in one position.
Examples of this include back sleeping,
sitting in travel seats or bouncy chairs, usage
of hard mattresses and not enough time playing
on their tummy.
The impact of deformational plagiocephaly is thought to
be mainly cosmetic, however some recent research
indicates that there may be a link between this
condition and subtle developmental difficulties,
visual problems and the development of the
nervous system.
If you are concerned ensure that your
baby’s ‘head circumference’ and head shape
are monitored.
This can be done at regular baby checks
when length and weight are checked.
All these measurements are plotted on a
graph so any changes can be noted.
Many cases resolve spontaneously, but it is important
to have your baby monitored as treatment may be
required. There
are other forms of plagiocephaly which are due
to internal factors, such as the joints of the
skull closing too early.
It is therefore important to ensure the
correct cause of the plagiocephaly is
identified.
The check list below shows the most
commonly seen signs:
Check
List (possible indicators of plagiocephaly)
·
Facial changes
·
One ear or eye sitting further
forward on one side
·
Eyes not in alignment with each
other
·
Bald spot more noticeable on one
side
·
Parallelogram shaped skull when
looking directly down at your baby’s head
·
Preference for always lying on one
side
·
Any of the above that do not seem
to ‘resolve’ by about 6 weeks of age.
How
you can help avoid deformational plagiocephaly:
·
Let your baby play on their tummy
regularly
·
Avoid your baby spending long
periods of time in their car seat / bouncy chair
·
Carry your baby in a papoose or
sling
·
Alternate sides when feeding
·
Alternate the toys in your baby’s
cot to both sides
Remember that there are many factors that can influence
head shape and growth rate including parental
head size and shape.
As with all aspects of child development,
keep an eye, trust your instinct and if in doubt
get things checked out.
Annabel
James is a local chiropractor with a particular
interest in treating children and babies.
She is currently studying towards an MSc
in Paediatric Chiropractic, and can be contacted
by e-mail at annabel@choosechiropractic.org.uk.
She
has recently started working at the Wantage
Natural Therapy Centre, 34a
Market Place
,
Wantage
,
OX12 8AH
. Call
01235 760079 for more information or to make an
appointment. Annabel will be available for free
mini consultations at the Centre on Saturday 29th
May from 10am – 1pm.
Please note that this article is for general
information only and is not intended to replace
professional medical assessment or advice.
If you are concerned contact your health
care professional.
References for this article are available
on request.
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