The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 1 out of every 36 children has been identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in 2020. The medical community is striving hard to find the ideal treatment solution to effectively counter this disorder.
What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neuro-developmental condition that can affect basic cognitive functions such as motor skills, memory, and the ability to communicate properly. Autistic individuals often display repetitive behavior that can cause communicative difficulties and hamper social interaction in the long run.
Most patients tend to display signs of ASD from the age of two. Researchers are constantly involved in a quest to ascertain the exact causes of this debilitating disorder. However, a large segment of the medical fraternity links the occurrence of Autism to genetic anomalies, environmental reasons, and other medical conditions that may have taken place while the child was still in the womb.
Physicians are increasingly recommending hyperbaric therapy to autistic patients as an adjunctive treatment solution alongside the standard conventional treatment.
Hyperbaric Therapy for Autism
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is an alternative treatment that physicians have been prescribing for several decades for a wide range of afflictions ranging from decompression sickness in divers, to toxic poisoning, gas embolism, and other medical complications. Autistic patients are believed to display significant progress in their medical condition after undergoing regular hyperbaric therapy.
How is Hyperbaric Therapy Administered to Autistic Patients?
During the administration of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, the autistic patient is placed in a pressurized compartment known as the hyperbaric chamber. Thereon, pure unadulterated oxygen is administered to the patient at enhanced pressures that are two to five times greater than normal atmospheric pressure at sea level. This pressurized pure oxygen dissolves into the body fluids and is delivered to the brain tissues that are inflamed due to the lack of an adequate amount of oxygen. The levels of oxygen decrease in these areas due to the damage in blood vessels impairing or restricting the flow of blood in that area.
Over the past few years, physicians have used hyperbaric medicine to successfully counter Autism all over the country. There are numerous testimonials of parents or caregivers of autistic individuals that have been published.
Five such instances have been mentioned here that provide readers with a better insight into the efficacy and success of this adjunctive treatment for ASD in an effective manner:
David’s Story
David was diagnosed with autism at the tender age of two. After a few months, his physicians noticed that his speech deteriorated rapidly till he turned totally non-verbal.
Thereafter, his doctors suggested hyperbaric therapy as an effective solution for Autism, and his parents invested in a portable hyperbaric chamber at their residence. David’s response to hyperbaric oxygen therapy was encouraging as he could speak new words and phrases by the end of his 24th dive.
Alex’s Story
As Alex turned one, he was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, a medical condition that comes under the spectrum of Autism. His parents were apprehensive about the side effects of the potent medication that was being administered to Alex by his doctors to control his seizures.
They subsequently opted for hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and Alex was advised to undertake 40 sessions of HBOT spanning over a period of two months. Prior to this treatment, Alex would suffer from six seizures in a day. After eight weeks of HBOT treatment, his seizures initially dropped from six to one and soon ceased to occur at all. Alex’s doctors also observed a remarkable improvement in his responsiveness and general awareness after his hyperbaric therapy.
Chase’s Story
Chase was two years old when he was diagnosed with Autism. He always seemed to be excessively focused on certain objects and made no effort to maintain sustained eye contact with people around him. Chase never indulged in typical childhood prattle but had severe emotional outbursts and remained aloof most of the time.
His parents were very concerned about this unusual behavior and consulted two different doctors to ascertain the state of their child’s mental health. The results of the diagnosis from both medical experts confirmed their worst fear, as Chase was deemed autistic. They were crestfallen but decided to try out all available treatment options, and thereon, Chase underwent HBOT therapy.
After undergoing the initial forty sessions of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, Chase began to maintain steady eye contact and even started babbling for the very first time. He also began to display a calmer disposition and enjoyed spending time with other individuals. This positive development in Chase’s demeanor encouraged the parents immensely, and they decided to provide him with subsequent rounds of hyperbaric therapy. This move enabled Chase to cope with this disorder in a better manner.
Makayla’s Story
Makayla was just four months old when she started experiencing seizures. These constant seizures eventually caused a Grade 4 bilateral bleed, pushing Makayla into a comatose state. Her doctors believed that Makayla would be in a vegetative state for the remainder of her life even if she made a recovery from the coma.
Although Makayla recovered from her coma, the doctors were unable to ascertain the cause of the bleeding and diagnosed her with Cerebral Palsy. Subsequently, Makayla suffered a major brain hemorrhage following a thirty-minute seizure. Thereon, her family decided to seek help from a hyperbaric expert. As soon as Makayla commenced her hyperbaric oxygen therapy, there was a significant improvement in her focus and eye coordination. Doctors observed a marked reduction in her seizures after successive hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions.
Toro’s Story
Toro was six years old and faced difficulties in his cognitive abilities like speech, concentration, and memory retention. His parents had heard about hyperbaric oxygen therapy and decided to try this treatment option for their son.
Although his doctor recommended forty sessions of HBOT therapy, Toro displayed remarkable improvement in his communicative skills and memory. His mother was elated when Toro approached her and requested her to read from a book.
In Conclusion
These remarkable stories of countering Autism successfully through hyperbaric therapy have instilled a fresh ray of hope in parents of autistic children and are a huge inspiration for future generations. However, it is recommended to consult a health specialist before trying hyperbaric oxygen therapy for your children.
