When Should You Worry About Baby Flat Head
Flat caput syndrome, also called positional plagiocephaly, develops in babies because of external pressures on the soft, malleable infant skull. It is more common now that babies sleep on their backs, as recommended by SIDS safety guidelines.
While one in v children are affected past flat head syndrome, parents receive mixed messages near whether it has an impact on development, and clinicians don't take good bear witness to allay fears.
Our review published this week shows that while non all children displaying a apartment caput volition experience developmental problems, the syndrome tin be used as a marking of potential developmental delay. Nosotros make the recommendation that children with flat head be assessed for developmental delays.
What is flat head syndrome and why does it develop?
Flat caput syndrome presents as a flattened area on the back or side of a baby'due south caput. In severe cases it can affect the alignment of the ears, eyes and jaw. It's typically noticed by the parent upwardly to the fourth month of age. It tin can be present at birth or develop over fourth dimension, upwards to about the 18 month marker when the baby's skull basic are harder and fixed in identify.
The syndrome develops because of external pressures to the soft, malleable baby skull. It's become more than common since 1992, when the SIDS safe sleeping campaign Back to Slumber (now known as Safe to Sleep) began. This campaign saved lives, and continues to do and so.
With the need for rigorous information on whether flat head syndrome leads to developmental delay, we reviewed existing medical literature to inform clinicians and parents on the state of knowledge in this area. There were 19 studies that met our strict quality criteria, in which the children's ages ranged from 3 months to ten years.
Identifying risk
Our review shows apartment head syndrome is a marker of developmental delay. Filibuster can occur in one or multiple areas of development known as domains. For children with flat head, delays were observed near unremarkably in the motor domain, controlling muscular activities such equally walking (gross motor) and holding a spoon (fine motor). The 2d and third most common delays were observed in language and cognition (such as speaking or understanding one's own name).
Although nosotros sought to address whether apartment head leads to delays, or whether delays are causing apartment head, none of the studies conducted to date are able to answer this question. Thus, given there is a link, just the management is to be determined, we brand the recommendation that children with flat head be assessed for developmental delays.
Simple developmental milestones should be met (within the normal variation). When non met, clinicians (GPs, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nurses) tin use standardised cess tools to more objectively assess the child'south development and refer for early intervention if necessary.
Our review plant children with flat head who had developmental delays on multiple domains (such as motor, learning and cognition), or who had depression muscle tone, were a special high risk grouping where intervention and longer-term follow-upward would probable be helpful.
Our review plant delays were more mutual in newborn to 2-year-olds, just delays did persist to preschool and school aged children in some cases, although there is less knowledge on the older age groups.
Nearly children with flat head syndrome will be fine
While it is hard to say with confidence what proportion of children with flat head will experience a developmental delay, it is likely most children with flat head will be fine in terms of their development.
In the studies included in the review, about x-25% of the children had developmental delays beyond that expected (although the range observed was 3-51% depending on the report). Some studies presented this in terms of hazard, and reported children with flat head were upwardly to 10 times more probable to feel developmental delays than children without apartment head.
How parents can preclude or reduce flat head
The benefits of following the SIDS guidelines far outweigh whatsoever concerns nigh flat head, given expiry could effect from not following safety sleeping recommendations. Babies should be put to sleep on their backs in a firm, flat area, gratuitous of toys, pillows or other items, in a non-smoking surround.
Abode prevention of flat head syndrome is possible. Tum time while awake and supervised – a piddling chip every day starting from birth – can help strengthen cervix muscles, and provide time off the back and sides of the head. Altering the position of babe while awake (holding, or in a carrier) is also helpful.
Some children are at heightened risk of flat head syndrome, such as premature babies, those with a challenging birth, or who have torticollis (also known as wry or twisted cervix), so y'all should not feel guilty if your child has a flat head. If concerned at any fourth dimension, you should seek advice from a health professional person. Since babies receive vaccinations at several time points during their showtime yr this tin can be an opportune fourth dimension to seek cess and advice.
Source: https://theconversation.com/do-you-need-to-worry-if-your-baby-has-a-flat-head-71794
Post a Comment for "When Should You Worry About Baby Flat Head"