Marie and Pat Elliott

September 30, 2008

Dear Karen and Mack,
We wanted to write to let you know our thoughts about our son’s, HBOT therapy upon the completion of his last session. Like many parents of children on the Autism Spectrum we have tried numerous behavioral and biomedical interventions to help our son overcome the brain injury of ASD. As part of this combined behavioral and biomedical treatment plan we recently completed 50 hours of HBOT at your Newtown Square HBOT center.

Prior to starting with your center this past July, we have previously done the soft chamber HBOT and saw some positive changes, but not nearly as positive as the improvement we have seen in our son over the course of, and now at the completion of treatments. These improvements include better eye contact, more conversational inquisitive type language, overall more alert, and more focused. Our son follows directions and seems to listen to instructions better. Upon his return to school earlier this month the teachers noticed improved academic performance across all levels of his curriculum. Additionally, shortly after starting (10 DIVES) his bowel function had improved significantly and his overall mood associated with a decrease in anxiety and increase in social flexibility has been dramatic.

The staff at your center is particularly impressive in how they approach the challenges of dealing with children with ASD. Mitch loves kids and it shows. His caring playful approach with our son made the treatments stress free and enjoyable. His professionalism was exceptional. The same can be said about the two of you, Mack and Karen. You never promised us a miracle recovery but were balanced in your view that HBOT, particularly when combined with other biomedical and behavioral interventions can result in dramatic improvements.

Over the past 5 years we have been both open minded and skeptical of many interventions touted to help children with ASD. We feel like we have tried almost every kind of therapy and treatment that has been appropriate and safe for our son. Some have been extremely beneficial and some have been a complete waste of money, time and emotion. This experience has resulted in a significant amount of dramatic improvements for our son. We plan on continuing with your center for ongoing treatments and look forward to our next session.
Sincerely,
Marie and Pat Elliott
Parents of Bradley, age 7

Honey and Rob Rinicella

September 4, 2008

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing on behalf of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy of Newtown Square, and its benefits for our children as well as the Autism Community as a whole. We have identical eight-year-old twin boys with very different forms of Autism, and extremely challenging issues with their health in general. We have a team of doctors that treat our children, and they are considered to be some of the top Autism specialists in the country. Every doctor on our team has stressed the urgency of treating our children with HBOT, and feel that it is a crucial component in the healing process of their severe issues, which include immune, gut, and neurological.

We have seen improvement on a small scale for our severely affected son, and more improvement with his higher functioning twin whose issues aren't quite as complicated, but still complicated none the less. We can't wait to see more results for both, because research in the area of HBOT and Autism has proven that a minimum of forty dives is needed to see the most beneficial results with their complicated issues, as well as to repair the body on a more noticeable level. Unfortunately we have yet to complete this series of forty, but are confident that the inside issues are on their way to improvement, and the outside visible issues will catch up after the prescribed amount of dives has been achieved.

HBOT has definitely helped our children, however due to the severity of Autism that our boys are challenged with, the full prescription is needed to see the most dramatic results. We feel strongly (based on our doctor's input, as well as our own research) that it is truly the only therapy for Autism, and the issues that accompany this complicated disorder, that can penetrate healing on a cellular level. These children need HBOT!

Thank you for your time,
Parents of Victor and Vincent, age 8 and Rhonda, age 10

Jennifer Santabarbara

September 3, 2008

I am the mother of Michael, who is 6 years 10 months old. He has been diagnosed with PDD-NOS and ADHD. (PDD-NOS is Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified; ADHD is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.)

To date Michael has had seventeen HBOT treatments at Hyperbaric Therapy of Newtown Square, and we have already started to see results. His vocabulary, sentence structure, and communication have all increased. Michael is responding to questions and directions more quickly. Now the questions and directions are usually said once, rather than the five times they had to be repeated before we started treatment.

I am very pleased by the results we have started to see, and can't wait to see what other gains Michael will make once he completes the forty treatment protocol.

Jim and Jeanette Fox

September 1, 2008

During the month of July, our son, Seth, participated in treatment from HBOT. Seth, who is eight, has been on a journey of recovery from PDD-NOS, an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Despite many therapies including diet, Seth continued to struggle with his attention and focus. He could attend 30 to 50% of the time. A normal eight year old can attend over 70% of the time. Seth also struggled physically with various food and environmental sensitivities, which caused low levels of inflammation in his body. After completing twenty-four HBOT treatments, we have seen improvements that have continued to the present that include a better ability to attend, a better ability to participate in a “normal” conversation where it goes back and forth, better understanding of humor, and less inflammation in his body, and improved gross and fine motor skills (less muscle weakness). During treatment, Seth was also able to be exposed to gluten and casein without long-term effect (usually twenty-one days) on behavior and attention. A greater extent of improvements will be known as Seth returns to school.

It is our opinion that HBOT adds a significant piece to the healing process and recovery of children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. HBOT is able to increase the effectiveness of other therapies due to the ability to increase physical healing and decrease the discomfort of inflammation that plagues so many of these children. Often children with an ASD are not able to focus due to these physical irritations and sensitivities to their environment and so the many brain development therapies that can help them are not able to work as well and take longer. It is also our opinion that HBOT is able to increase the healing process of the brain through an increase of oxygen-rich blood flow. Often children with an ASD have shallow breathing so that they cannot breathe deeply. Activities which increase blood flow to their brain and help with breathing often help their focus increase. Therefore, HBOT's ability to increase the oxygen flow at a larger level is key to helping these children recover.

Jean Rogers

August 28, 2008

Matt, my five-year-old son, will soon complete forty treatments at Hyperbaric Therapy of Newtown Square. The changes we have witnessed have been more subtle than dramatic, but the changes have given a much better quality of life to Matt, and by extension, to the entire family.

Before HBOT my son was quite a handful. The office manager had to fill out the paperwork on our first visit because Matt made it literally impossible for me to do so. As a result of HBOT treatments Matt demonstrates less sensitivity to noises and exhibits less stimming. He makes direct eye contact and is more alert. He responds to his name more readily and is better able to follow simple commands. There is less disruptive behavior. He sleeps better at night which means that I sleep better at night!

The entire staff at Hyperbaric Therapy of Newtown Square has been very welcoming and supportive. They have been extremely flexible in order to accommodate my work schedule, and for this I am most grateful. Matt has especially bonded with the CHT, Mitch Williams, and really loves his daily visits to the clinic. He will miss them.

I'm proud to have been able to provide HBOT treatments for Matt and he has very definitely benefited from it. Hopefully, one day we will be able to do this again.

Rob & Deb Sidell

August 22, 2008

This is just a note to keep you updated on Michael's progress since he completed his HBOT treatments over the summer months.

As you recall, after the first few sessions Michael's eye contact became much better. His mood and energy level improved dramatically. He started to show more initiative at home. Example: After taking an interest in a new remote controlled construction toy, he got out of bed one day and announced, “Hey, Mom, I need to earn some money so I can buy that new Rokenbok set. What can I do?” After a moment he said, “Oh, I know!” and he proceeded to practice his karate, he did a page of homework, and made his bed – all unprompted!

He has learned an age-appropriate interest in Pokemon cards and games from his fellow campers. Some other improvements include the use of more slang-type words, questioning the past, and engaging in longer conversations. He is definitely more “with it” and we have even found him eavesdropping on our conversations!

We are grateful for Hyperbaric Therapy of Newtown Square. Michael was very comfortable with you and your technologist, Mitch Williams. We found the experience very professional and have recommended you to several friends. We look forward to continued intermittent maintenance sessions throughout the year.

Thanks again.
Parents of Michael, age 9

FOLLOW-UP COMMUNICATION FROM MICHAEL'S SPECIAL ED TEACHER:
September 4, 2008

Good Morning,
Just wanted to share something: Michael went up 13 points over the summer in Math for MAP testing. That is fantastic. (Many students went down in scores.) Way to go, Michael!

Mrs. S.

Lori Loveland

August 8, 2008

This summer my 11-year-old son, Jack, was treated at Hyperbaric Therapy of Newtown Square. Since then his speech and behaviors have noticeably improved. He speaks in more full sentences with improved reticulation and has much more spontaneous speech. He also transitions with less anxiety, and makes less white noise and stimming. Jack is also able to carry on longer conversations and respond accurately to more questions. This month, for the first time in his life, he has sought out peers to play! My neighbor said she almost cried as she watched Jack insist her son come outside to play with him! In the past, Jack was only able to parallel play with his brother; peers were of no perceivable interest. Neighbors, doctors, and family members have commented on his obvious improvement. My husband and I could not be more thrilled with Jack's new skills.

Autism is a horrible disability for all affected by it: the individuals with autism and those who love them. HBOT is a powerful tool to help better the lives of people on the autism spectrum and their families.

Our experience at Hyperbaric Therapy of Newtown Square could not have been more pleasurable. Mack and Karen Reed and Mitch Williams are a blessing to us.

Mother of Jack Connors, age 11, and Luke Connors, age 8

Annie R.

May 15, 2008

For a long time, I've been on Prednisone daily for the treatment of vasculitis. As a result, my skin has thinned and now is very susceptible to tears. Recently, I stepped on a stick which punctured a hole in my lower leg. That puncture became infected and wouldn't heal, even with antibiotics. I then turned to hyperbaric oxygen therapy for treatment. After receiving four treatments, I was well on the way to recovery. My leg has healed beautifully.

Elizabeth K.

May 7, 2008

I have been plagued with plantar fasciitis for over twenty-five years. Depending on my level of activity, pain ranged from barely noticeable to such an extreme that it interfered with my ability to walk. I was prescribed five "dives" and after the very first one noticed that the bursitis in my shoulder wasn't bothering me! Now my feet don't hurt any more and "fixing" the shoulder was an unexpected blessing.

Susan

May 1, 2008

I can't believe how fortunate I've been for the healing I've experienced with hyperbaric oxygen therapy. I've experienced less swelling in my feet, so much that I've dropped a full shoe size. I have more movement and flexibility and I have more energy. I'm sleeping better and my skin is rejuvenated. Interestingly enough, I tried this as a last-resort treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. It should have been my first choice.

Ed G.

April 18, 2008

I have been suffering with shoulder pain for 20 years now. It prevented me from swinging a golf club, playing catch with my son, and leading a healthy athletic lifestyle. Despite surgical intervention and physical therapy, I still had the pain from inflammation. I turned to hyperbaric oxygen therapy and after only 11 sessions I had more range of motion and the pain is gone.

Tina P.

April 15, 2008

I have been suffering from pain in both knees for three years now. It prevented me from sleeping well and I had a hard time using the stairs. After several hyperbaric oxygen treatments I felt like a new person. Now I sleep like never before, with no pain. I am very thankful and highly recommend hyperbaric therapy to anyone who suffers from aches and pains as I did.