[b][Utah, April 19, 2016][/b] – The Craniofacial Foundation of Utah’s team believes that head and facial deformities present issues beyond aesthetics. That is why they are dedicated to promoting research and training to enhance available methods of prevention and correction for a number of craniofacial abnormalities.

[b]Cranial Deformity No More With Helmet Therapy[/b]

A young child’s skull is vulnerable to getting deformed due to various outside factors. The Craniofacial Foundation of Utah offers a solution with the standard treatment option known as “helmet therapy.” The treatment is self-explanatory: a specially designed helmet is crafted to correct the child’s cranial deformity due to a phenomenon called “positional molding.”

Helmet therapy doesn’t cover all comers, however. It only works for a child whose skull is deformed due to positional molding, not by synostosis (a premature closing of the skull’s soft spots). For the latter, surgery is required.

[b]Safety and Effectiveness[/b]

For over three to four decades, helmet treatment has been the go-to option for reshaping deformed skulls, providing further proof of its safety and effectiveness. Helmet treatment is as straightforward as it sounds. The helmet gradually re-molds the skull back into a normal shape with further treatment. Parents can expect to have no functional problems relating to this solution.

[b]The Treatment Process[/b]

The Craniofacial Foundation of Utah’s resident orthotist scans the child’s head and then fabricates a helmet based on the specifications. It takes about two weeks to create the helmet. Afterwards, the child must wear the helmet for an average of 22 to 23 hours per day. It can be removed to air it out or if it’s bath time. This must go on for the duration of the therapy, which can take 3-4 months to complete.

Like any extensive treatment, helmet therapy requires regular appointments to a plastic surgeon. Once every 4-6 weeks is ideal to easily track the treatment’s current stage and check on the child’s progress.

Parents who worry about the child ‘rejecting’ the helmet can rest easy. Children have been observed to tolerate the helmet within the first day of usage. It is advised that parents detect the child’s cranial deformity before 14-18 months of age, since by that time, the helmet is no longer effective at re-molding the skull.

[b]About The Craniofacial Foundation of Utah[/b]

The Craniofacial Foundation of Utah doesn’t only provide treatment for various craniofacial disorders. It also dedicates resources to further research and training on improving methods that prevent or correct craniofacial abnormalities. The organization also focuses on educating and supporting families which are affected by their loved ones’ craniofacial defects.

For more information on other services, visit their website at http://cranioutah.com.