How is plagiocephaly diagnosed?
A doctor can diagnose “positional plagiocephaly” simply by examining a child’s head, without having to order lab tests or X-rays. The doctor will also note whether, over time, regular repositioning of your child’s head during sleep successfully reshapes the child’s growing skull. On the other hand, a much more serious condition called craniosynostosis (see box at right) typically worsens over time.If there’s still some doubt about the diagnosis, X-rays or a CT scan of the head will show the doctor if the child’s skull bones are normally separated or if they fused together too soon.
