Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Autism

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with its incidence within 3years of age. Children with the autism spectrum disorder face numerous challenges every day in the form of issues with cognition, communication, and interpersonal relations. Some serious issues of motor problems and gastrointestinal issues might also occur in children with autism. Besides therapies like physiotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and speech therapy, hyperbaric oxygenation can help in better improvement for the child.

What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Autism?

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy or HBOT, is a treatment model where an autism spectrum disorder patient is enclosed in an oxygen chamber where the pressure is greater than one atmosphere. The medical expert needs to regulate both the enclosed chamber and the necessary pressure. The autism patient sits in the chamber to relax, take a nap or watch some video, while hyperbaric oxygen diffuses throughout the body, even into damaged tissues. Pressurized oxygen expands restricted capillaries and blood vessels in the body, heals the brain by activating idling neurons, and improves cognition, attention and communication besides reducing hyperactivity. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy also improves muscle tone as pressurized oxygen increases muscle mass.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Randomized Clinical trials

Here are some publications that you can check to know more about hyperbaric oxygen therapy clinical trials and research for autism:

• Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Autistic Children: A Pilot Study
• Randomized Trial of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Children with Autism
• Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment in Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Hyperbaric Oxygen in the Treatment of Childhood Autism: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Autism?

Children taking up hyperbaric oxygen therapy usually experience no pain or major after effects. In children with autism, hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be used to tackle:

• Cerebral hypoperfusion

Autism patients are often diagnosed with cerebral hypoperfusion, which means insufficient blood flow in brain. Certain autistic behaviors like repetitive behaviors, impairments in processing expressions and emotions, are often correlated with cerebral hypoperfusion. Studies have shown that hyperbaric oxygen therapy can help in improving the condition of cerebral hypoperfusion in patients.

• Inflammation

Recent studies have shown that many individuals with ASD suffer neuroinflammation, immune dysregulation and/or gastrointestinal inflammation.

HBOT has been shown to produce anti-inflammatory properties. According to Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment in Autism Spectrum Disorders, a “child with ASD who had significant eczema and bowel inflammation with abdominal distension had resolution of eczema, chronic diarrhea and abdominal distension with HBOT.”

• Behavioral Issues 

Behavioral problems are quite relevant in case of children with autism spectrum disorder and several case studies have shown that hyperbaric oxygen therapy for autism show improvement in behavior, memory, social interaction, verbalizations and cognitive functioning.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy helps children gain more health improvements when pursued with other therapies like physiotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and stem cell therapy for autism. At Advancells, we care for your children and encourage parents to take a step forward into the world of autism care. Contact us today at [email protected] to learn more.