What is Cranial asymmetry?
Cranial asymmetry is when the bones of the skull are not symmetrical or even on both sides. It can give the appearance of a flattened side of the skull. It occurs usually on the back of the skull, or on one side.
It is something that is considered quite common in newborns, who are born with very soft skull bones (these fuse and harden over the course of their first few years of life). In a newborn, this cranial asymmetry can be caused by pressure on the skull bones during delivery. In other newborns, it occurs in those who favor one side of the head to sleep on, over another.
Understanding skull-related symptoms and features.
Symptoms may affect multiple parts of the body. Understanding which part of the body a symptom affects, can help us to better understand the potential underlying causes of a symptom, including a rare disease or genetic syndrome.
The skull has several crucial functions: it cradles and protects the brain, supports the face and forms the head. It is a bony structure made up of the mandible and cranium.
Symptoms affecting the skull can sometimes be seen with the naked eye, especially if they affect the shape, size and structure of the head and face. Diagnosing a skull-related symptom may involve different tests and assessments, both subjective and objective.
The condition may be associated with conditions like positional plagiocephaly or craniosynostosis and could impact facial symmetry or lead to developmental concerns if severe.
What should I do next?
In some instances, cranial asymmetry may be one of the features of a rare disease or genetic syndrome. To find out if someone with Cranial Asymmetry, may be due to a genetic syndrome, it is important to have a consultation and evaluation with a clinical genetic specialist. Specialists may also suggest specific genetic testing or other types of tests to help reach a diagnosis. FDNA’s AI technology can help speed up the diagnostic process by analyzing facial features and other health information.