There wasn’t much information on helmet therapy hence I decided to document didi’s journey. And since many mums are asking, here’s our entire journey.

We did didi’s helmet with Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) after we went for the routine polyclinic check up which referred us to KKH.

There are only two places that do helmet in Singapore as of writing, TTSH and a private clinic, Orthopaedia Singapore.

Orthopaedia Singapore offers a free first time consultation. We went for the free consultation and were tempted by the short timeline (could get a helmet within a week) but decided to get the cheaper $500 TTSH helmet as we are afraid that didi might reject a $3800 helmet. Do note that you can use CDA for the private clinic but not with TTSH.

Pro of private clinic:

1. Advanced technology to measure head, should be more accurate than manual measurements. 2. No need to make casting on head, measurements sent to US to make. 3. Short wait time of 1 week compared to average 2 months for TTSH. 4. Helmet material seems better and lighter. 5. Able to customise design on helmet. 6. Can use CDA.

Con of private clinic:

1. Helmet is 6x the price of TTSH. Follow up appointment is also 2-3x the price of TTSH. 2. Location is far from my home (minor factor).

It is crucial for baby to get helmet therapy within the golden period (before 8 months old) hence I hope our timeline would be helpful for you to decide if between subsidised TTSH or go private clinic.

Below is our timeline:

⁃ 28 Dec 2020: 4th month routine check at polyclinic where I asked for referral for his flat head. Thankfully I insisted on a referral even though the doctor at polyclinic didn’t think he has any flat head. Mum’s instinct is right when I discussed possibility of plagiocephaly with him but he didn’t seem to know.

⁃ 7 Jan 2021: First KKH appointment where the paediatrician referred us to physiologist at KKH to see if helmet was necessary. So many referrals which was frustrating as the golden period to do helmet is crucial.

⁃ 12 Jan 2021: Made a free consultation with private clinic and didi’s results was considered severe plagiocephaly as it has affected his facial symmetry. In the afternoon we went to KKH where the physiologist assessed didi having torticollis and asked if I wanted helmet. However KKH could not do helmet therapy and only TTSH could do so. Hence they refer me back to the KKH paediatrician to write the referral.

At this point, it was hard to decide which route to take. We wanted to wait to see when we can get TTSH appointment but the private clinic told us we have to take another head measurement if it is more than 2-3 days (and thus need to pay, only first consultation is free).

In the end we bite the bullet and decided to go for the cheaper TTSH and pray hard the appointment won’t be too far.

⁃ 14 Jan 2021: Back to KKH paediatrician where she wrote referral to TTSH orthotist.

⁃ 8 Feb 2021: Finally our first appointment with TTSH’s orthotist! We had a really nice orthotist, Mr Tsurayuki Murakami. He took head measurements manually (no high tech machine here) and shared information about the therapy. We’ve already decided to do it before the appointment thus we made the mould on the spot!

⁃ 18 Feb 2021: Helmet was ready and we did fitting.

⁃ 23 Feb 2021: Helmet caused some abrasions so I emailed Mr Murakami and he kindly gave me a same day appointment. We went back to trim off some parts of the helmet.

⁃ 18 Mar 2021: Appointment to check on progress. Everything went well.

⁃ 15 Apr 2021: Appointment to check on progress. Everything went well.

⁃ 14 May 2021: Didi’s head outgrow the helmet and thus have some abrasions. I emailed Mr Murakami and were given option to stop helmet as the measurements were good or make adjustments to the helmet if we want to continue. We decided to stop as we were happy with his progress and did not return for the final appointment as it would be just taking the head measurements.