Autism Spectrum Disorder or ASD is a neurological ailment affecting the behavioral, social, and communicative skills of a child. This is a debilitating ailment that can eventually result in the impairment of the basic cognitive and motor abilities of an affected individual.
As per medical reports, statistics have revealed that 1 out of 59 children in the United States are diagnosed with ASD on an average basis. The early signs of autism in children are known to set in anywhere between the ages of 1 to 3.
The road to recovery for an autistic child in an impaired state of physical and mental health is achievable if the condition is diagnosed at an early stage. The prescription of a requisite treatment by a qualified medical expert at the right time can prove to be a crucial factor that can determine the development of the basic faculties and aid the child in regaining a healthy state of mind and body.
In the past few years, hyperbaric therapy has become immensely popular as an alternative treatment approach for children suffering from ASD.
Today’s article will shed light on hyperbaric therapy and its benefits for children with autism spectrum disorder. Let’s dive in!
Quest To Find A Safe Treatment Solution For Autistic Children
The constant quest by medical professionals across various spectrums to find suitable options for treating Autism Spectrum Disorder has unearthed an age-old alternative therapy that is popularly known as Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy or HBOT.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy has been prescribed to treat a wide variety of illnesses in the last few decades, ranging from decompression sickness, gas embolism, and chronic wound healing to many more. While the treatment is yet to receive approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it is increasingly becoming popular in the autistic community as an alternative treatment modality for ASD in children.
What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for autism utilizes a pressurized compartment called the hyperbaric chamber. The hyperbaric chamber is a sterile compartment with sealed glass windows wherein the autistic child is placed on a comfortable bed with adequate interior lighting.
Thereon, pure oxygen is administered at an enhanced atmospheric pressure that can range between 1.2 atm to 5 atm as per the direction of the medical experts. This procedure enables the additional oxygen to get absorbed by the body fluids and reach all the vital parts of the brain and other oxygen-deprived areas of the human body, enhancing the natural healing capabilities.
All necessary measures are taken to ensure the safety and comfort of the child during the treatment process. The treatment sessions are prescribed for a minimum of 60 to 90 minutes, depending on the condition of the patient.
To induce a relaxed state of mind the children are provided with an option to read books, listen to music, or watch television during the treatment sessions.
Impact of Autism Spectrum Disorder on Children
Detailed studies on the impact of autism in children have revealed a multitude of conditions that can prove to be detrimental to their health, such as:
- Cerebral Hypoperfusion
- Immune Deregulation
- Oxidative Stress
- Neuro-Inflammation
- Gastrointestinal Inflammation
- Neuro-Transmitter Anomalies
- Mitochondrial Dysfunction
Apart from the above-mentioned health afflictions, numerous other ailments are known to occur in autistic children.
How Can Hyperbaric Therapy for Autism Help Autistic Children?
Autism-related conditions such as Cerebral Hypoperfusion could result in a serious condition known as Hypoxia. This condition can cause inflammation and also increase the development of harmful lymphocytes that hamper basic functioning in autistic children, resulting in repetitive behavioral patterns, impairment of speech and sensory abilities, poor social skills, etc.
The early commencement of hyperbaric therapy in such cases has proven to be extremely therapeutic and has enabled the children to cope with this condition gradually.
HBOT is known to be very effective in treating immune deregulation, as this therapy is known to boost the immune system with its inherent anti-inflammatory properties that are introduced due to the enhanced supply of oxygen in the body fluids.
Medical experts in the field of hyperbaric science have also observed significant improvement in the oxidative stress levels in autistic children due to the increase in anti-oxidant enzymes after successive sessions of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for autism.
There have been numerous reports of hyperbaric experts witnessing a major boost in the regeneration of healthy mitochondria, which is essential to combat neuro-transmitter anomalies in autistic children.
The ability to mobilize and circulate critical stem cells from the bone marrow to the damaged brain tissues is another notable feature attributed to HBOT therapy whilst treating autism in children.
Hyperbaric therapy is believed to enhance the production of enzymes that assist in the detoxifying process to provide relief to autistic children suffering from gastrointestinal inflammation.
Wrap Up
Hyperbaric therapy for autism can be administered to children with autism spectrum disorder at large medical facilities or in the comforts of their homes under careful medical supervision.
Currently, medical experts are recommending hyperbaric therapy across the world as an effective, safe, and viable alternative treatment option for children with autism spectrum disorder.
