Every pregnant woman’s dream is to give birth to a healthy baby. They are optimistic that all baby development processes, including skull formation, will go normally. However, in the first few months of pregnancy, the baby’s facial bones may develop too soon. This instance can lead to the onset of craniofacial disorders.
Depending on the affected part of the baby’s skull, craniofacial abnormalities can be mild or severe. In most severe cases, these conditions can expose your kid to neurological concerns later in life. Therefore whenever you notice craniofacial abnormalities in your kid, you should seek Portland, OR pediatric plastic and craniofacial surgery to correct the baby’s skull structure. In this article, we will explore important facts concerning craniofacial conditions.
They Occur in Different Forms
You may think that craniofacial condition is a single condition. However, craniofacial disorders differ depending on the affected bone parts. Craniosynostosis, for instance, occurs after premature closure of the soft spots within an infant’s skull.
Hemifacial microsomia is another anomaly characterized by tissue underdevelopment on one side of the face. Another condition, plagiocephaly, causes the malformation of the infant’s head. The pediatric surgeon will customize the surgery based on the kid’s condition.
The Right Team Is Essentials
The experience of healthcare providers is vital to quality care. Therefore, it is good to seek craniofacial surgery from an experienced surgeon. Research the number of successful procedures they have conducted similar to the one you seek.
Also, you will want a facility that prioritizes clinical preparations. During the appointment, your child may be seen by multiple specialists. Clinics with a large craniofacial team have the advantage of greater experience.
Time Is Indispensable
Early treatments have always proved to be the best. Once you notice craniofacial abnormalities in your kid, you should never hesitate. Seek treatment options before your kid starts relying on the affected parts of the body.
For instance, you should never wait for your kid to use the affected parts for communication. Timely medical intervention will help to prevent developmental delays. Early intervention also boosts the success rate of the procedure.
Your Child May Need Multiple Surgeries
Your child is likely to need at least one surgery. In most cases, surgeries occur as early as three months and end by twelve months. Nevertheless, most kids need secondary surgeries later in their life.
This is especially when the treated conditions remain as children grow. The good thing about receiving treatment from a comprehensive team is that different specialists can perform more than one surgery simultaneously. The idea here is to minimize your kid’s time in the hospital.
You Can Still Use the Normal Baby Speak
Babbling is a vital stage for your kid’s language development. When your child undergoes surgery, their speech production may be hypernasal. However, it would help if you continue using the normal speech stimulations with your kid.
Like any other child, the babies under treatment should play with sounds. Orally produced sounds have always proved to be superior to windpipe based. Therefore, you should always be there to reinforce your child’s language development.
Does your baby have a craniofacial condition? Worry no more since craniofacial surgery can help correct your child’s skull structure. Seeking this treatment from the right team will boost the success rates of the operation. The skilled surgeon will customize the surgery based on your kid’s unique condition. Seek treatment before your baby starts relying on the affected body parts. It would help if you continued babbling while your child is under care to enhance language development.
