Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Brings Hope To Children With Autism Symptoms

By Author: Jack Priboi
Total Articles: 3
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Recent studies in the medical world, on autism symptoms and autism treatment, bring not only hope, but actual help, to families with autistic children. Lead physician and researcher, Daniel Rossignol, M.D., treats children with autism. Seeing his patients improve with hyperbaric oxygen treatment led him to conduct the first large scale, double-blind, controlled study to examine the effectiveness hyperbarics for autism treatment. And, the results of this study demonstrate positive improvements.

What happens in the HBOT Chamber -

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy traditionally involves inhaling up to 100% oxygen at a pressure greater than 1 atmosphere (atm) in a pressurized chamber. In the first randomized, controlled, double-blind multicenter trial, published in BMC Pediatrics and entitled "Hyperbaric treatment for children with autism: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial." Dr. Rossignol and colleagues, from 6 centers in the USA, studied 62 children, aged 2-7 years, to assess the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen treatment in children showing autism symptoms.

The research trial concludes that children ...
... with autism who received hyperbaric for autism treatment - http://www.californiahyperbarics.com/services.html in HBOT Chambers - http://www.californiahyperbarics.com/hbot.html at 1.3 atmospheres and 24% oxygen for 40 hourly sessions had significant improvements in overall functioning, receptive language, social interaction, eye contact, and sensory/cognitive awareness compared to children who received slightly pressurized room air.

The children were randomly assigned to either 40 hours of hyperbaric treatment at 1.3 atm and 24% oxygen (treatment group) or slightly pressurized room air at 1.03 atm and 21% oxygen (non-treatment group). Clinical outcomes were evaluated by three different scales: the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scale, the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC), and the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC).

Dr. Rossignol said, "In our study, we observed significant improvements in several core autistic behaviors with the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatment at 1.3 atm compared to children receiving near-placebo treatment. These findings confirm what we are seeing in clinical practice--that many children with autism may benefit with the use of this treatment."

Director of the International Hyperbarics Association, Shannon Kenitz, said, "With autism on the rise, it is promising to see a study that has been conducted with the high standards endorsed by the medical community. Having this scientifically controlled and analyzed study that shows the positive effects of hyperbarics is truly what this community has needed. The study not only presents the benefit of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for children with autism, but also gives families the hope that so many other therapies have failed to do."

"The impact of this study on the autism community is significant. It brings validity to a successful intervention that needs to become part of mainstream medicine," commented Kyle Van Dyke, M.D., and Autism Specialist from Madison, Wisconsin.

The growing concern regarding autism in this country is reinforced by the critically high ranking this study as earned by BMC Pediatrics. It is currently the most accessed article and projected to continue to climb in significance.

Source- Medical News Today

California Integrative Hyperbaric Center provides hyperbaric oxygen therapy in HBOT Chambers to treat the children with autism. For more information please visit http://www.californiahyperbarics.com.