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Big Head

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Originally published on TodaysParent.com July 04, 2003

Q: If a baby has a bigger-than-average head, can that be an indication of a learning disorder or disability?

A: A large cranium could simply be a reflection of a bigger-than-average-headed mom or dad. One thing is for certain, it’s not an indication of a learning disorder or disability.

However, in rare circumstances, a large head could be related to serious problems going on inside the skull. The most important information here is whether the circumference of your baby’s head has been growing along the same growth line since birth. That’s why your doctor measures your baby’s head and follows its growth monthly on a chart.

If rapid growth crosses percentile lines on its curve, it may be due to too much fluid inside the brain or another brain-related problem. A newborn with a significantly large head should probably be scanned to determine the cause. By far the most common cause is family characteristic — meaning, it’s genetic.


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