FOXNEWS.COM - Parents of children with autism will rattle off the list of treatments, therapies and diets they have tried in an effort to reduce or eliminate the symptoms or characteristics of autism.
The lists are usually long: gluten-free/casein-free diet, applied behavioral analysis, floor time, anti-anxiety medication, sensory integration therapy, etc. One therapy that is gaining attention in the autism community is hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or HBOT, a treatment in which a patient breathes pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber.
Typically utilized in patients with air embolisms, decompression sickness, or soft tissue infections, HBOT is covered by insurance companies for a small number of approved diagnoses, but most will not cover it for the treatment of autism. The theory behind using HBOT in people with autism is that the increase in oxygen will reduce excess swelling of brain tissue, increase cerebral blood flow and stimulate cerebral tissue. The belief is that all of these results will allow the brain to do its job better, resulting in a person who is more "present" in regards to social interaction and communication.
Though increasing in popularity, HBOT is not without controversy. Supporters of the treatment cite increased eye contact, decreases in sensitivity to noise and an increase in general social awareness. Critics say possible side effects, which include onset of claustrophobia, bruised eardrums, sinus pressure, and seizures, are not worth the risk. The cost for treatment - between $120 and $150 per session - doesn't help sell this treatment to the general public, either.
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