[Utah, March 30, 2016] – The Craniofacial Foundation of Utah provides helmet therapy for children with cranial deformity. The treatment is for children diagnosed with plagiocephaly or an abnormally-shaped head. The center’s orthotist will customize the helmet to mold a child’s head safely and correctly.

[b]Customized Helmet Therapy[/b]

The Craniofacial Foundation of Utah provides helmet therapy for children with this physical condition. The treatment is for a child diagnosed with plagiocephaly, meaning they have an abnormally-shaped head because of positional molding or syntosis (a premature closure of one of the soft spots of the head).

Positional molding does not cause a child to have functional problems. The use of helmets to re-shape a child’s head is not new and is the chosen form of treatment for this same reason for the past three to four decades.

The position of children while they sleep may cause a mild form of cranial deformity, which may improve if the tendency toward plagiocephaly gets treatment early enough. A child may sleep more in one positioning, leading to constant pressure to one side of their head. This may result in the deformation of the skull. During the early stages, changing the sleeping position of a child may normalize the deformity or prevent further changes.

The center’s orthotist will scan a child’s head and design a helmet specifically for him or her. It normally takes approximately two weeks to create the helmet.

For the therapy to work, patients must:

1. Wear the helmet consistently, averaging 22 to 23 hours per day. The parent may remove the helmet for bathing and airing.
2. Most children can tolerate the helmet within the first 24 hours.
3. The usual time for helmet therapy is around three to four months.

Once the deformity is present after 14 to 18 months of age, helmet therapy will no longer be able to improve the head’s shape.

[b]Payment and Warranty[/b]

The self-pay price includes casting, fitting and adjustments by the center’s orthotist. The prices for therapy are:

1. Standard cranial remolding helmet - $2,000
2. Bi-valve cranial remolding helmet - $2,200

The center offers a 10% discount if a parent pays for the helmet in full at the time of casting. The Craniofacial Foundation of Utah makes sure that the helmet follows a child’s anatomical condition and measurements. They provide a guarantee against defective material and workmanship for a period of 90 days from the date of delivery.

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

The Craniofacial Foundation of Utah is committed to promoting training and research to improve techniques of correction and prevention of craniofacial deformities. They also provide education and support for families affected by craniofacial defects.

For more information about the center’s services and programs, visit http://cranioutah.com.