What Researchers Did
Researchers reviewed the evidence on whether hyperbaric oxygen therapy helps children and adults with autism spectrum disorder.
What They Found
This Cochrane systematic review found no evidence that hyperbaric oxygen therapy improves social interaction, communication, behavioral problems, or cognition in people with autism spectrum disorder, based on the one trial that met its inclusion criteria. That trial randomly assigned 60 children with an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis to hyperbaric oxygen therapy or a sham treatment. The reviewers rated the overall quality of the evidence as low, pointing to the small sample size and wide confidence intervals. The trial also reported adverse effects linked to treatment.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
The review's conclusions rest on just one trial of 60 participants, with the reviewers themselves rating the evidence as low quality due to the small sample size, wide confidence intervals, and other unresolved methodological problems.