Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for ASD

[SallyBear]

My aunt has just rung me to tell me all about my Uncle's Hyperbaric Therapy (he is a cancer survivor and this treatment is recommended post radiation). She was full of praise for the place that they'd visited and wanted to tell me that they use this to treat kids with ASD. She couldn't tell me HOW it helped, so I thought I'd ask the experts. You.
Any insight please?

It's dangerous and there is no scientifically verified and robust evidence that it does anything to "cure" or persistently improve ASD.

I think BlueShark knows about this and is pleased with it.

It was certainly an oxygen therapy her DS did - not sure if it's this one or there is another one.

She's on holiday now, so maybe bump this thread in a week or so.....

It was popular in US for a while. Has no evidence to support it. There was a case where there was an explosion from using it and the child died, hence why its not recommended. Look at Research Autism for info.

There is a chamber in swanley. It apparently can be good for pain too. Ms sufferers can use it.

Tbh. I wasn't entirely sure about it, but I thought I would ask here. Thank you!

Some information here from the Mayo clinic website about conditions that this type of therapy is used/recommended for:-

www.mayoclinic.com/health/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy/MY00829/DSECTION=why%2Dits%2Ddone

Mayo clinic is a top US hospital, so should be a pretty reputable source of info.

I have done about 500 sessions with DS. He has mild cerebral palsy though. It helped him hugely.

When I was there most of the children had ASD. Most parents were really pleased with the way oxygen helped their children, but the way it helped varied with each child.

There is NO danger to it AT ALL. Really really. There is no scientific proof that it helps, but I think this is because there's no money in HBOT.

Drug companies make the money and so have money to fund research.

HBOT has literally transformed my son's life and prognosis. His NHS physio when he was younger was amazed at his transformation. She now works at Great Ormond Street and has asked me to speak to her colleagues about it.

Please ask any other questions if you have any. I would recommend you give it a go.

Skewiff - exactly. No scientific proof does not necessarily mean it doesn't work - it very often means no one has paid for the right studies to be done.

It's very expensive to prove things work.

This does sound like the therapy BlueSharks DS does. He does have ASD. And she is pleased with it.

Thank you all for your replies. I will go and have a look at it in Sept (that magical month when the kids have gone back to school ), and ask straight questions like HOW does it help?

SallyBear - is it the one in Walthamstow?

If so ask if they have the number for Professor James up in Dundee. He is the expert on it all and set up all the chambers everywhere.

He - or his partner, Petra, will answer all your questions.

Can somebody PM me the contact for this chamber in walthamstow. Am interested in it for both my sons. TIA.

Thanks. No it's a place in Milton Keynes. www.mkweb.co.uk/mkmstg/displayarticle.asp?ID=4755
DS has ASD and Treacher Collins Syndrome. It affects the skull bones. He is Deaf with a fluid filled mastoid air cell system, so your comments about the glue ear Pipinjo have given me some pause for thought.

Found it, just rang them and they have a waiting list..
Will try one in Chelmsford... Hope thy have done availability.

Damn autocorrect.....

skewiff - about Professor James and his work on oxygen therapy - I live close to that area but I am not sure how an autistic child would get a referral for such a treatment?

This is not a treatment on the NHS. The NHS do not support the use of HBOT for autism or cerebral palsy etc because of the lack of research.

If you get an open minded GP they will write a letter saying its OK for you to take your child to the oxygen chamber. Then its a private therapy - although not expensive. £10 a session - if you go to an MS action centre.

We have a number of kids locally with asd who use this therapy. Most of the mums swear by it - especially for communication and increasing verbal interaction. I have no idea how or why it works, but it's v popular here!

I'm hesitant about DS trying it out, as from what I'd been told its wearing an oxygen mask and wearing earphones. Both of which DS would hate and get very distressed by, so even though it maybe the right treatment, it wouldn't be for him as I wouldn't want him panicking. But thank you all, for your responses it was great to hear differing opinions.

Hi
I have had HBO treatment myself, this was for a bone infection that wouldn't heal
Regional MS centres very often have HBO machines. This was were I had mine, as it was a charity it was donations but they gave you an idea of how much each treatment cost them. If there was a waiting list, MS patients had priority.
It didn't help my infection but it did make me feel AMAZING. I had more energy than i've ever had in my life, honestly if I could have one at home I would!
However, I have a 4 year old with ASD and there's no way he would be able to have HBO treatment even if it was proven to work. The mask you wear is very tight fitting and heavy, plus you have to sit still throughout the treatment. I did 3 hours each session 3 times a week for 6 weeks.
Maybe an older child with ASD that you could explain the mask too might tolerate it better. With the effects that it had on me, I can easily believe it might help someone with ASD.

DS has done around 60 dives - thanks for the reference Indigo :)

Initially I approached this with scepticism and more to help another family member see if the tharpy benefits him and when we started it I saw some good changes and kept it going. DS has an aquired head injury so it may help him differently. He is less hyperactive which is his worst issue, and that gives better attention, eye contact, more speech and interaction so cant ask for more really.

We go to Walthamstow where it costs £10 per dive (20 min reccommended in a block) and i have met so many parents with asd and cp children that sware by it to be the top thing that is helping DC (most also do biomedical, ABA, retained reflexes, etc); most parents have been doing it for over 4 years and the results they claim are amazing.

The benefits vary for each child - some see difference after 10, some after 20, some after 100, some after 300...but in my research I havent come across negative side effects as such that may put me off. Parents report improvement with seizures too and Great Portland street hospital recommends it for CP and some ASD I was told.

I am still doing it even though I dont know whether is helping just temp or long term as I am doing lots of other things at the same time but after a dive which we usually do on a Friday or a Saturday DS is an angel and calmer and more content during the weekend.