Autism, a brief history and definition

Autism is a disorder that effects an estimated one in one hundred fifty children born in the United States today. Annually, that number grows by some 11 to 16 percent. It's been calculated that since the 1990's the number of individuals with autism has grown an astounding 172%, making it the fastest growing developmental disability in the United States.

The cause of autism is unknown. There are many suspected causes but none has been medically proven. In any case parents usually notice the symptoms of autism within the first two years after their child's birth.

Some of the warning signs that a child may have autism are:

• Avoids affection like hugging and cuddling
• Frequent temper tantrums
• Inappropriate attachment to objects
• Uneven motor skills
• Over-sensitive or under-sensitive to sound, light, and/or pain
• May ignore surroundings
• May not respond to parents or others

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in the treatment of Autism

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been used in the treatment of autism in children. Some scientists believe that autism is caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain. Others believe that it's due to swelling of the brain. The theory behind prescribing hyperbaric treatments for autistic children is that the increased atmospheric pressure inside a hyperbaric chamber reduces brain swelling by constricting blood vessels and delivering an increased amount of oxygen to the tissues in the brain. The combination of pressure and pure oxygen is thought to awaken dormant areas of the brain and increase the regeneration of brain tissue.

One study found that hyperbaric therapy was remarkably efficient. Treatments consisted of forty sessions at 1.5 ATA for one hour a day, five consecutive days per week for eight weeks. To increase the validity of the study, SPECT brain scans were taken before and after the treatments to see physical changes in brain tissue.

We are not here to educate you about autism, but rather to offer you an alternative form of treatment that has proven beneficial to many. And since parent and child will be inside the hyperbaric chamber together, even a healthy parent can feel the positive effects of hyperbaric treatments. Call today to schedule an appointment to discuss your options.