Are There Different Types of Flat Head Syndrome? What are They?

There are two basic shapes for heads with Flat Head Syndrome – Brachycephaly and Scaphocephaly. With Brachycephaly, the skull appears flat, wide, and short; with Scaphocephaly the skull appears long and narrow.

Preventing Flat Head Syndrome can be straightforward using positioning techniques or specifically designed head supports. Flat Head Syndrome treatment can be more challenging and may require the use of a customised helmet that baby wears for 23 hours per day for a number of months. Treatment for Craniosynostosis, on the other hand, can often require surgery.

Another condition commonly linked to Flat Head Syndrome is Torticollis. This is a condition that affects the baby’s neck muscles, so that the baby rests his/her head on one side more than the other.

Seek medical advice about any change in your baby’s head shape.

Add comment

JComments

Treatment and Prevention

Flat Head Syndrome currently affects 1 in 10 newborn babies in Australia to some degree. It is most common in premature or multiple births, but also affects many babies who spend time lying on their back or favor one side. As well as being a cosmetic problem, it has recently been linked to developmental delays in newborn babies according to a recent study by Dr Matthew Speltz, Clinical Psychologist at the Seattle Children’s Institute.

Does a Head Support Really Help in Preventing Flat Head Syndrome?

Whilst there is no randomised clinical trial that supports the fact that a flat head pillow can help prevent the occurrence of Flat Head Syndrome in a baby, there are an increasing number of people from the medical fraternity as well as parents and carers who vouch for the effectiveness of some of these pillows designed especially for babies less than 6 months old.