Special Needs
Those with LO's with torticolis...
So, I think we are headed down the torticolis path. DS is favoring one side (turning his heaf) a lot. I just noticed it the other day and started looking back at pictures. He has been doing it since almost birth. Pedi never said anything at his 5 day old visit, 2 week old visit or 1 month old visit. We return on 2/11 for his 2 month visit.
I researched some exercises to do to stretch the neck muscle on his left side. I just started doing it today. When I put him on his tummy for tummy time, he will not look to the left. However, if I put him on his back, he is more apt to look to the left that way.
So, my questions are:
When was LO diagnosed with torticolis?
Does it almost always lead to plagiocelphaly?
What has your treatment plan been?
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Re: Those with LO's with torticolis...
Charlotte had relatively pronounced torticollis. She was diagnosed at 2 months and was in weekly PT from about 2.5 months until 13 months. Although, the torticollis had largely been resolved by about 10 months and she had to stay in PT for things that may or may not have been related to the torticollis (primarily not crawling and not wanting to be on her knees) for the last three months of PT. In addition to PT, we did stretches/exercises after every diaper change and really worked on positioning at home. At one point (maybe around 6 or 7 months of age), we discussed using a TOT collar with the physical therapist, which was ultimately ruled out due to her facial palsy. But I know that some people have success with the TOT collar.
Charlotte had a flat spot and we were referred to plastic surgery to see if she needed a helmet. However, we had to wait so long for an appointment that the flat spot corrected itself in that time (a few months). So we never needed a helmet. I know it varies from child to child, though.
Finally, I just want to say that there are plenty of kids with torticollis that don't need PT and can get away just with some positioning at home. However, PT did wonders for Charlotte. Other than trained professionals that were specifically looking for a head tilt, no one could tell that she had torticollis by the time she was 10 months old. She also was completely caught up on her gross motor skills by 18 months. She's still not the most coordinated kid in the world, but no one would guess that she was ever delayed.
Best of luck.