What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
A hyperbaric chamber is a pressurized, oxygen-filled chamber. A hyperbaric chamber is a pressurized, oxygen-filled chamber. It is most often used to treat burns and can be used for SCUBA divers who surface too quickly and develop oxygen bubbles in their bloodstream.
Recently, doctors began to use the therapy for other conditions including autism and asperger’s syndrome. The patient lies in the tube for about an hour at a time breathing in the oxygen under increased atmospheric pressure.
HBOT for Autism Spectrum Disorder
In a recent study, 62 children with autism were assigned to either undergo therapy in an active hyperbaric chamber or a sham treatment to serve as a control.
The kids ages 2 to 7 had 40 sessions. Researchers found the children who had the therapy had significant improvement in their overall functioning, receptive language, social interaction, eye contact and sensory/cognitive awareness. Study results were published in the March issue of the journal BMC Pediatrics.
This is one of a very few number of scientific studies into the effectiveness of the treatment, but many parents and physicians report anecdotal evidence.
Doctors believe the therapy benefits children with autism by increasing blood flow to areas of the brain which may have lower levels of oxygen than in typical children.
The treatment is not currently approved and is considered an alternative treatment. It is generally not covered by insurance.
Additional studies are needed to confirm these findings. Many doctors remain doubtful of the therapy’s benefits, and long-term results are not currently known. The therapy may have to continue for the benefits to remain.
For more information, contact the American Asperger’s Association.
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