What Researchers Did
Researchers reviewed existing publications on the physiological and clinical effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
What They Found
The review indicated that several case series and randomized trials proposed that low pressure/low oxygen concentration hyperbaric treatment could improve the clinical manifestations of autism. While ASD affects as many as 1 in 91 children in the USA, specific numerical improvements from HBOT were not detailed in this review.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients with autism spectrum disorder might consider discussing hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a potential adjunctive treatment with their healthcare providers. However, given this is a review of existing studies, further robust research is needed to establish definitive efficacy and safety for this population.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it reviewed international publications and did not involve Canadian researchers or participants.
Study Limitations
A key limitation is that the review is based on a limited number of reported studies regarding the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for autism spectrum disorder.