He says deformed children, some not even old enough to speak, know they look different. The abnormal growth may have a devastating effect on self-esteem, but the condition is not grave. It's when more than one suture joint fuses prematurely that the situation is critical. Because the skull and brain can't grow, the increased pressure can cause blindness, retardation, and in extreme cases even death. A pediatrician may notice that a child's head is not growing at the proper rate.
Mothers often realize there is something wrong while shampooing a baby's hair.
When the hair is wet, the shape of the head is much more distinct. It's then that a mother may notice a bulge or a flat spot. Facial deformities have been described by physicians for hundreds of years. They were seen mostly as a source of morbid fascination, however, rather than a medical condition. As long ago as the 1600s, some physicians took a scientific approach to the problem, but only in the last 30 years have the necessary advances made the surgery feasible.