A Call for Cranial Remolding Specialist Education

Being a practitioner specializing in the treatment of deformational plagiocephaly brachycephaly, I wanted to better understand the level of training/knowledge/education in our profession in relation to this condition and its treatment with cranial remolding orthoses. To that end, I conducted a survey via the OANDP-L listserv. In total, 40 responses were collected at a 100 percent completion rate. The most frequent topics discussed were torticollis (100 percent), facial asymmetry (95 percent), ear alignment (90 percent), and temporal flattening (80 percent). The least frequent topics discussed were Frankfurt hori­zontal plane (15 percent), squamoid bulging (30 percent), head height unleveling (45 per­cent), in utero constraint/indenting/ridging (47.5 percent), and windswept head shape (47.5 percent). The remaining topics represented were posterior head height (72.5 percent), sloping of the forehead (62.5 percent), and in utero versus positional head shapes (55 percent).

MPO programs are required to educate students on cranial remolding. According to the CAAHEP Standards Template II Appendix B, programs are required to ensure the following: