Children on the autism spectrum face numerous challenges and issues every day. Many autistic children struggle with cognitive problems, gastrointestinal issues, neurodevelopment problems and motor difficulties.

Every child is unique and will experience these issues in different ways—but most children on the autism spectrum struggle to do things that many people without autism take for granted.

 

What are the benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for auatism?
 

Scientific evidence has shown that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) can treat many of the challenges that children on the autism spectrum face. 

Patients undergoing HBOT usually experience no pain or major after effects, something that parents of children with autism find appealing.
 

• Cerebral hypoperfusion

Many patients diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have cerebral hypoperfusion, or insufficient blood flow in the brain. This has been correlated with certain autistic behaviours such as repetitive behaviours, desire for sameness, impairments in processing facial expressions and emotions, and decreased language development.

Many studies report significant improvements in cerebral perfusion with the use of HBOT. This includes a 2012 study where patients who received HBOT saw an 82.4% improvement in temporal lobe perfusion, 85.3% improvement in frontal lobe perfusion, and 75.8% improvement in perfusion to other brain areas.

 

• 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 diarrhoea and abdominal distension with HBOT.”

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• Behavioural Issues 

 

HBOT has not only been successful with improving physiological problems in children with ASD, but also behavioural issues as well.

Numerous case studies mentioned in Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment in Autism Spectrum Disorders found that children who received HBOT saw improvements in behaviour, memory, social interaction, verbalizations and cognitive functioning, colour, communication, aggressiveness, social interaction, colouring, speech, self-help skills, and more.