Autism is a mysterious
disease-condition-behavior disorder which causes a complex
neurological disorder that typically occurs within the first 3 years
of life, that results in developmental disabilities.
Children will seemingly develop
normally until 18 -24 months at which time an alarming regression in
their development occurs and they may stop speaking and begin to
lose interest in their surroundings and interactions with other
people. Autism occurs two to four times more frequently in boys than
in girls.
There are many theories as to the cause of Autism such as abnormal
cerebral blood flow to areas of the brain, high fevers, birth
trauma, brain injury, infections, reactions to vaccines (some
reports implicate MMR) or lack of oxygen before, during or after
delivery. Other theories suggest mineral deficiencies such as
calcium, iron and zinc either in utero or after birth or fat and
protein deficiencies.
The use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for autism has been used
in many countries worldwide. The results are varied and the
individual reports from families and health professionals are
encouraging. There are many testimonies on the net from families who
have taken HBOT for their autistic child with varied results, mostly
very encouraging.
HBOT increases the oxygen tissue concentration which increases
cerebral blood flow to an area thus enabling the body to restore
brain tissue metabolism of oxygen and nutrients, helping restoration
of any areas which are suffering from hypoxia. New blood and oxygen
begin to stimulate an area, especially one that has viable,
recoverable brain cells that are "idling neurons" not knowing what
to do instead of function normally.
HBOT reduces swelling or excess fluid
in the brain that might be pressing on centers of the brain which
cause "confusion" in their function ability. HBOT has been
demonstrated to exert positive objective changes from a safe,
adjunctive therapy that has been overlooked by most healthcare
professionals. Parents are encouraged to educate themselves on this
new dynamic use of HBOT so they can make informed decisions for the
future of their child.
The following study, testimony and article is just an example of the
information one can obtain from the internet. The testimony is from
one of our patients treated here at Reimer Hyperbaric.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) adjunctive role in the treatment of
Autism — Trish Planck, Hyperbaric Clinical Director
Autism is a complex neurological disorder that typically occurs
within the first three years of life that results in usually severe
developmental disability. Its incidence in the population is
estimated to be 1 in 500 with a prevalence of boys to girls of 4 to
1. The ensuing effects of the disease result in severe impairment in
areas of social interaction and communication and in some
individuals self- injurious behavior may occur.
Presently there are no effective cures for this disease as little is
known as to the etiology. Diet, psychotropic medications and other
regimens have been tried with mixed and often disappointing results.
Recently a therapy that has been in and out of favor has been shown
to be of possible benefit in the treatment of this disease.
Initial results were objective improvements in a variety of diverse
phenomenon. Each child demonstrated global reduction in aggressive
behavior. Parental summaries all stated substantial decrease in
tendency to rage or exhibit tantrums. All children were reported to
be easier to engage when the parent wished to initiate communication
with marked improvement of direct eye contact.
All three children enrolled in a
school program displayed higher achievement with better performance
and less instruction in classroom assignments. All children were
improved with regard to understanding verbal commands. Reasoning
abilities were noticeably enhanced in all individuals.
Clinical improvement was substantiated by pre and post treatment
SPECT SCAN brain imaging which displayed enhanced neurophysiologic
function in at least one of the members of this study.
The aim of hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an adjunct therapy was to
evaluate the efficacy of the treatment in a series of 40 initial
treatments, one or twice daily at 1.5 ata to 1.75 ata using a
monoplace Sechrist chamber on 100% oxygen for a total time of 60
minutes per treatment.
Patients were treated for 5 days
consecutively with two days off. HBOT has been demonstrated to exert
positive objective changes on a limited cohort of autistic children
as evidenced by subjective and objective parameters. HBOT would seem
to be useful and safe adjunctive therapy in the treatment of Autism.
Autism
Hyperbaric Testimonials
B. M.
Autistic and Cerebral Palsy
Thirteen year old boy hearing impaired, mentally delayed and
non-verbal. 3 Spect Scan images were taken of the brain at baseline,
mid and after the 115th treatment:
* Progress while undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy:
* Major improvement in interactions with family members.
* Plays with family pets.
* Major improvements in understanding verbal commands.
* Beginning to verbally communicate.
* Responds to knocks at the door and answers the door in a normal
manner
* Major improvements in balance, especially when he starts to fall,
he is able to regain his balance with a faster response. He cross
patterns down the steps without holding on.
* He is no longer raging/destructive of things in the home.
* Sits through movies with more understanding.
* Better understanding of public surroundings.
* When music is played he responds in singing tones.
* Hearing has improved and is no longer required to wear hearing
devices.
* Responds to things/awareness-like waiting for the school bus in
the morning through the window.
* Plays with various types of toys with more understanding.
* Loves to work in the house and yard with Dad.
* Mimics everything you ask him to do.
* Is able to dress himself, is caring for himself in a independent
manner.
* Doing better in school with his assignments.
* Happier child and smiles more.
Z. M.
Eleven year old boy with profound autism, who is non-verbal, and is
still in diapers. Progress since undergoing hyperbaric oxygen
therapy:
* Major increase in understanding.
* More eye contact.
* Behavioral changes are easier to handle and function in public
place, less aggressive, raging stopped and is much happier.
* New ability to mimic simple vocal sounds-of major importance as
pre-language sounds he makes have more tone and syllables.
* Shows more interest and contact with his brother, increase in all
interactions with others.
* Accepts new people, places and situations easier.
* Plays with a wide range of toys, instead of only one object.
* Less sound sensitive.
* Higher functioning in all ways.
Z. M. never noticed people let along mimic anything they did. He now
mimics vocal tones and tuning forks and is more aware of sounds and
things that people do. Parent gives credit to hyperbaric oxygen
therapy.
L.S.
Autistic Ten year old boy, high functioning with verbal
skills and mimics.
* Exhibiting receptive manner
* Easier to engage.
* Exhibiting great internalization of emotions.
* Less tantrums.
* Classroom achievement improved.
* Completing work without re-direction and accuracy improving daily.
* Easier to reason with especially in the home environment.
* Open to re-direction with rages.
* Great willingness to work and stay focused through all classroom
assignments.
* Much better transitioning, and flexible, open to variety of
mediums with little assistance needed.
* Much improved relatedness in sharing his emotions.
Abnormal Regional Cerebral Blood Flow In Childhood Autism
Departments of Radiology, Psychiatry and Child Neurology, National
Center Hospital of Mental, Nervous, and Muscular Disorders, National
Centre of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira City, Tokyo, Japan
Correspondence to: Takeshi Ohmishi, Department of Radiology, 4-1-1
Ogawa higashi, Kodairs City, Tokyo, Japan 197-0031
Neuroimaging studies of autism have shown abnormalities in the
limbic system and cerebellar circuits and additional sites. These
finding are not, however, specific or consistent enough to build up
a coherent theory of the origin and nature of the brain abnormality
in autistic patients.
Twenty-three children with infantile autism and 26 non-autistic
controls matched for IQ and age were examined using brain-perfusion
single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with
technetium-99m ethyl cysteinate dimer. In autistic subjects, we
assessed the relationship between regional cerebral blood flow(rCBF)
and symptom profiles. Images were anatomically normalized, and
voxel-by-voxel analyses were performed.
Decreases in rCBF in autistic patients compared with the control
group were identified in the bilateral insula, superior temporal
gyri and left prefrontal cortices. Analysis of the correlations
between syndrome scores and rCBF revealed that each syndrome was
associated with a specific pattern of perfusion in the limbic system
and the medical prefrontal cortex.
The
results confirmed the association of (i) impairments in
communication and social interaction that are thought to be related
to deficits in the theory of mind (ToM) with altered perfusion in
the medial prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate gyrus, and (ii)
the obsessive desire for sameness with altered perfusion in the
right medial temporal lobe. The perfusion patterns suggest possible
locations of abnormalities of brain function underlying abnormal
behavior patterns in autistic individuals.
5 year old boy treated at Reimer Hyperbaric (testimony)
We miss you !!!! Time has flown since we returned from Canada. We
had such a nice time while we were there and will always be most
grateful for your friendship and hospitality.
Things at home are going well, it took a little time to get settled
in again, the children adapted very easily to the changes, although
they miss all of you too. The changes in Christian are wonderful! He
continues to speak much more often and in a "conversational" manner,
which we are so thankful for.
For your records, I will give you a little background information on
Christian and the changes that have occurred as a result of
hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Christian was 2 weeks overdue, and as a result, labour was induced.
The procedure did not progress well and the labour and subsequent
emergency C-section were very difficult. Christian was deprived of
oxygen before & during delivery. The hospital records stated he
suffered "mild to moderate hypoxia" and fetal distress. His apgars
were ok and he did have a birth cry. He had suffered lung damage
(double pneumothorax) as well as oxygen deprivation.
He lost a lot of weight in the hospital and we stayed 4 days. He was
released and we went home - thinking everything was fine. Christian
was breast fed and he did very well except that he seemed to have
"colic", although it wasn't the normal colic, he never outgrew it
(usually happens at 4 months).
He was
an extremely happy baby, even though he was in pain a lot. He never
slept well and was awake most of the 24 hours of the day. At 4
months he suddenly developed "clenched fists" first one, then the
other. They were severely clenched with thumbs out. He had an EEG -
no seizures activity noted. He has a MRI, which showed no tumours or
abnormalities.
The hands stayed clenched until about 16 months of age, where it
sort of "wore itself out". He never developed proper use of his
hands and fingers for fine motor. His "pointer" fingers are stunted
in growth and usually icy cold.
Christian was never able to tolerate food, solid or other until I
forced him to eat around 2 years of age. It was devastating to do
so, but I had no choice. He had many sensory difficulties, noise was
devastating to him, clothes were intolerable, smells made him gag.
He
didn't develop speech although he walked at 8 months, sat unassisted
at 4 months and was running - fast at 1 year old. He was still very
happy and friendly although as he got older his eye contact
considerably lessened. He would connect for a very brief period and
run away. In a group setting he would go to be on his own,
preferably in a room by himself.
He was very physical and ran, climbed and jumped all the time. He
was constantly in motion. He developed "eye ticks".
We were told that he had:
(1) a definite neurological disorder
(2) possibly autism
(3) possibly tourettes syndrome
(4) definitely sensory integration disorder
(5) definitely receptive (less) and expressive (more) language
disorder
We were told - this is it, he will never be "normal" teach him sign
language and get on with your life - don't try to "fix" him, it
won't happen.
We never gave up on Christian and more importantly, Christian never
gave up on Christian. Through much very hard work, tolerance,
acceptance and love, Christian did progress. We found what we needed
and we did it, simple as that. When he was 5, we decided he needed
hyperbaric oxygen therapy and we were right, he did need it and
these are the changes that occurred as a result.
(1) Although his sensory difficulties were already decreased, they
did so even more after HBO- (we did 40 treatments). What occurred
that is really wonderful is that his internal thermostat (which was
defective especially in his fingers) has stabilized! His fingers are
not icy cold anymore and his has completely stopped biting his nails
and fingertips. There were always raw and bleeding.
The
tissue is healed and he doesn't bite them at all anymore. His hands
look more normal and less stunted in growth. This is not wishful
thinking, its really true. He also grew 1 whole inch from Dec. to
Feb..
(2) His receptive ability is so much better. He understands
consequences and can follow directions so much better. He doesn't
seem "confused" like he did before.
(3) His expressive ability with language is outstanding. He actually
talks on the phone and carries on a two-way conversation. His
replies are no longer just one word. His desire to use language is
much more pronounced. His teachers are amazed and very happy with
the changes. They report that he is much better at "talking with"
the other children and interacting in general.
(4) Although Christian was always a loving child, he is much more
demonstrative now. he hugs and kisses his friends, spontaneously
runs into Grandma's arms and tells her he loves her. He has more
access into "our" world and is happier because of it.
Christian has overcome so very much in his life, many times thru
very painful and difficult and frightening aspects. He has always
remained loving, trusting and open. He deserved the chance to
overcome his difficulties thru a non-invasive, pleasant atmosphere,
where he doesn't have to work so hard. HBOT gave him this. We will
always be so grateful for the opportunity to help him thru this
method and grateful for the wonderful people who have allowed it to
happen thru their hard word and dedication. That's you guys.