Lives reshaped by helmet

By KIM ARCHER World Staff Writer - 11/4/2009




Learn more about plagiocephaly:
tulsaworld.com/cappskids or tulsaworld.com/cranialtech


Maverick Reed isn't old enough to know about the 1980s hit movie "Top Gun," but his specially designed prosthetic helmet brings a chuckle to those who do.

Like Tom Cruise's lead character of the same name, the 10-month-old Tulsa baby radiates an air of coolness in his faux fighter-pilot helmet.

Maverick's mother, Casey Reed, said: "Dads love it because of the 'Top Gun' thing. It makes it look cool and sleek instead of a big awkward blue thing."

The helmet was prescribed for Maverick after he was diagnosed with positional plagiocephaly — meaning the back of his head is flat from sleeping on his back. The condition has become common in the wake of the American Academy of Pediatrics' 1992 recommendation to place sleeping babies on their backs, not their stomachs, to prevent sudden infant death syndrome.

The number of SIDS cases has fallen significantly since then, but now more children need helmets such as Maverick's to round out their heads.

"He was born with a round-looking head," Reed said.

But sleeping on his back, along with a tightness in his neck muscles called torticollis that kept him from repositioning himself, caused Maverick's head to become severely flat in the back.

Doctors continue to recommend that infants sleep on their backs, but they add that many flattened heads can be prevented or fixed by parental repositioning.

In Maverick's case, three months of repositioning and physical therapy didn't work, and his condition worsened.

His pediatrician recommended cranial remolding orthosis — the special $3,000 helmet he wears 23 hours a day to reshape his head.

"It's so frustrating to go through this as a parent, because in most cases it's preventable," Reed said.

If she had known the signs, she said, perhaps she could have begun repositioning her son's head sooner.

The Reeds went to Cranial Technologies in Dallas to get the helmet and must return there frequently for adjustments.

Reed called around to local vehicle wrap companies to see whether they could design a wrap for her son's helmet so that it wouldn't look so odd.

Her third call was to Meeks Lithography, where workers immediately volunteered to do it free of charge.

"They said, 'We take care of the little guys,' " she said.

The helmet looks more sporty, and it is working, Reed said. She expects that it will come off by Maverick's first birthday in December.

"His head looks tremendously better," she said.

Maverick has never tried to take off the headgear or acted as if it bothered him.

"He adjusted quickly," Reed said. "He's learning to walk, and it's great for that. When he falls, he doesn't cry because it doesn't hurt.

"We're a little nervous to take it off. He's just so used to having it."

Maverick has a daredevil streak, which Reed expects to continue sans helmet.

"He's very independent and very brave," she said. "He's definitely living up to his name." Symptoms of plagiocephaly:

Parallelogram-shaped head from bird’s-eye view

Eyes and ears misaligned

One cheek appears fuller

Forehead bulge

Angled forehead

Top of head slopes in one direction How to prevent plagiocephaly

Alternate at which end of the crib your baby sleeps or rotate how your baby lies on the diaper-changing table.

Place toys in various locations of the swing, crib or car seat to encourage diverse movement.

Don’t always use the same hip and arm to carry your baby.

Communicate with your child from both sides equally.

Limit the amount of time your child spends in car seats, bouncy seats, etc.

Provide at least 15 minutes of supervised tummy time each day. Sources: Cranial Synostosis and Positional Plagiocephaly Support; Cranial Technologies

Kim Archer 581-8315
kim.archer@tulsaworld.com


_________________________________________________

Tulsa World Reader Comments
_________________________________________________

AllSmiles, Sperry (11/4/2009 8:49:17 AM)
Meeks Lithography~ What a wonderful deed done! Good Luck Maverick Reed! Your a strong lil tike... keep on trucking!

moon, shine (11/4/2009 5:55:28 PM)
Heartwarming...

Elusive, the burbs (11/4/2009 4:13:08 PM)
What a handsome little boy, Go Maverick as you learn to walk! Very informative story, I'm sure many parents are unaware of this condition.

parksport, (11/4/2009 9:20:39 AM)
Very informative story. Thank you Mrs. Reed for sharing it, and best wishes to your family.

Arbythree, Tulsa (11/4/2009 3:25:21 PM)
Meeks Lithography deserves a big thank you!

allison7413, (11/4/2009 10:00:20 AM)
Yea Maverick!! If only i could be half as cool as you!!! Way to go sweet boy!!! We love you guys!!



Email to a Friend
Main Menu