top of page
rainbow colored puzzle pieces in the shape of a heart_edited.jpg

One in every 36 children and 1 in 45 adults is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the United States, according to the CDC's most recent research from 2023. Two years ago, one in 44 children had this condition; now, it is higher.

 

Many parents of autistic people are now turning to hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) due to its promising results in the treatment of symptoms of autism. The use of HBOT for the improvement of behavioral and psychological impairments in autistic people was first started in 2005. Since then, numerous studies highlighted the potential benefits of HBOT in the treatment of Autism.

 

Currently, HBOT is being used as an alternative treatment along with standard therapies to manage autism-associated symptoms.

​

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), in short, Autism, is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that affects the person's social and communication abilities. The onset of this life-long disability begins in early childhood (by the age of 2 or 3), and on average, it is diagnosed around the age of 5 in the US.

Autism affects people in different ways, varying in symptom severity. For example, some may need continuous support and care, while others may not.

What is Autism?

Though the exact cause of Autism is still unknown, researchers believe that it can be caused by various environmental and genetic factors (i.e., fragile X-syndrome or Down syndrome).

Causes of Autism

Since Autism affects the way the brain functions, an autistic patient may show the following signs and symptoms:

  • Cognitive problems

  • Speech and non-verbal communications

  • Neurodevelopmental issues

  • Difficulties with social interactions

  • Restrictive and repetitive behaviors

  • Gastrointestinal abnormalities

Signs and Symptoms of Autism

How Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Can Help with Autism?

Several studies performed internationally revealed that hyperbaric oxygen therapy can help in improving speech, behaviors, and cognitive skills in autistic patients.

 

For example, a multicenter, double-blind study reported that significant clinical improvements in overall functioning, receptive language, social interaction, eye contact, and sensory/cognitive awareness were observed in ASD children after they received 40 HBOT sessions. Although HBOT does not cure Autism, it targets certain problems that are thought to contribute to autism symptoms, such as:

​

 

The HBOT treatment outcomes may vary from patient to patient. To learn more about HBOT book a FREE consultation with one of our specialists below.  

  1. Meresse, I. G., Zilbovicius, M., Boddaert, N., Robel, L., Philippe, A., Sfaello, I., Laurier, L., Brunelle, F., Samson, Y., Mouren, C., & Chabane, N. (2005). Autism severity and temporal lobe functional abnormalities. Annals of Neurology, 58(3), 466-469. https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.20597

  2. Meyer, M. (2020). Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Effective For Treating Autism?. The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences, 13(2). Retrieved from https://touroscholar.touro.edu/sjlcas/ vol13/iss2/10

  3. Rossignol, D. A., Bradstreet, J. J., Dyke, K. V., Schneider, C., Freedenfeld, S. H., Cave, S., Buckley, J. A., Mumper, E. A., & Frye, R. E. (2012). Hyperbaric oxygen treatment in autism spectrum disorders. Medical Gas Research, 2, 16. https://doi.org/10.1186/2045-9912-2-16

  4. Sakulchit, T., Ladish, C., & Goldman, R. D. (2017). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder. Canadian Family Physician, 63(6), 446-448. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5471082/

  5. Rossignol, D. A., Rossignol, L. W., Smith, S., Schneider, C., Logerquist, S., Usman, A., Neubrander, J., Madren, E. M., Hintz, G., Grushkin, B., & Mumper, E. A. (2009). Hyperbaric treatment for children with Autism: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. BMC Pediatrics, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2431-9-21

  6. Xiong, T., Chen, H., Luo, R., & Mu, D. (2016). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2016(10). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD010922.pub2

  7. Rossignol, D. A., Rossignol, L. W., James, S. J., Melnyk, S., & Mumper, E. (2007). The effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on oxidative stress, inflammation, and symptoms in children with Autism: an open-label pilot study. BMC pediatrics, 7, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2431-7-36

  8. El-baz, F., Elhossiny, R. M., Azeem, Y. A., & Abdelsayed, M. G. (2014). Study the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in Egyptian autistic children: A clinical trial. Egyptian Journal of Medical Human Genetics, 15(2), 155-162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmhg.2014.01.004

  9. Bent, S., Bertoglio, K., Ashwood, P., Nemeth, E., & Hendren, R. L. (2012). Brief report: hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in children with autism spectrum disorder: a clinical trial. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 42, 1127-1132. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-011-1337-3

References

Medical Advice Disclaimer

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images, and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. 
 

bottom of page