New Research Shows HBOT Success
Although we know, from anecdotal evidence and previous uncontrolled testing, that Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy can successfully treat autism, there has been no controlled test to back up these claims…until now!
Finally, a controlled clinical trial has proved that HBOT leads to improvements in autism spectrum disorders - hurray!
The Trial
“Hyperbaric treatment for children with autism: a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial” a clinical trial carried out by Daniel A. Rossignol, Lanier W. Rossignol, Scott Smith, Cindy Schneider, Sally Logerquist, Anju Usman, Jim Neubrander, Eric M. Madren, Gregg Hintz, Barry Grushkin and Elizabeth A. Mumper, is the controlled trial that has got the autism world talking.
Rossignol, and his team from 6 different centers in the US, looked at a total of 62 children aged between 2 and 7 years, who were randomly split into two groups.
One group (the “treatment group”) underwent a program of 40 hours of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (1.3 atmosphere and 24% oxygen) and the second group (the “control group”) a program of 40 hours in a slightly pressurized room (1.03 atmosphere and 21% oxygen).
All of the children were assessed using various measures, including the Clinical Global Impression (CGI), the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) and the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC).
The Results
At the end of the program of treatment, children in the treatment group, who had received HBOT, showed significantly improved CGI, ABC and ATEC scores, when compared to the control group.
The treatment group showed improvements in:-
- Overall functioning
- Eye contact
- Social interaction
- Receptive language
- Irritability
- Hyperactivity
- Stereotyped behavior
- Speech
- Sensory/cognitive awareness
The study concluded that those children who received hyperbaric oxygen therapy showed significant improvements in autism symptoms, when compared to the control group, and it was noted that children over the age of 5 with “lower initial autism severity” showed the most “robust improvements”.
In conclusion, Rossignol et al stated:
“Given the positive findings of this study, and the shortage of proven treatments for individuals with autism, parents who pursue hyperbaric treatment for their child with autism can be assured that it is a safe treatment modality at the pressure used in this study (1.3 atm), and that it may improve certain autistic behaviors. Further studies are needed by other investigators to confirm these findings… However, in light of the positive results of this study and those of several previous studies, the use of hyperbaric treatment appears to be a promising treatment for children with autism.”
The full report, which has been published in BMC Pediatrics, can be read at Biomedical Central.
If you are interested in learning more about HBOT, you can read about it on my HBOT page. NewAutismCure also offers HBOT sessions and HBOT chambers for sale or rent.
Tags: clinical trial, HBOT, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, Neubrander, Rossignol
April 14th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
My 3 year old son with autism has benefited more from 30 hours in the hyperbaric chamber than anything else. We have done diet/b12 shots/supplements, with little or no success. HBOT is the way to go!
October 7th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
I have a child who has Regressive Autism with Motochondrial Disfunoughterction after 140 HBOT BOTmy Doughter is defnetly more sociable has good eye contact, and isa getting better every day Sofia Bowels have improved brilliantley, I would recomend HBOT to enyone that had a child with problems.