What Researchers Did
The researchers conducted a controlled study to evaluate the effects of 40 hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) sessions on 11 topographies of directly observed behavior in 16 children with autism spectrum disorders.
What They Found
The study found no consistent effects of 40 HBOT sessions at 24% oxygen at 1.3 ATA across any group or within any of the 16 individual participants.
This demonstrated that HBOT was not an effective treatment for the behaviors observed in this study.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients with autism spectrum disorders should be aware that this study found no evidence that hyperbaric oxygen therapy improves their behavior.
Families should discuss evidence-based treatments with their healthcare providers rather than pursuing unproven therapies.
Canadian Relevance
This study was not conducted in Canada and did not involve Canadian participants or researchers.
Study Limitations
The study's findings are specific to the particular hyperbaric oxygen therapy protocol and behavioral topographies evaluated.