We put LuLu in a mild hyperbaric oxygen (mHBOT) chamber this spring for 40 one-hour sessions. Why? Because some doctors have researched and are now hypothesizing that HBOT will improve symptoms in autistic individuals, much like it has done in people with cerebral palsy, fetal alcohol syndrome, closed head injuries and stroke.

Ok, so, in “parentese” what’s the theory behind the how and why?

Well, first you have to know that autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that, at least in some individuals, has been found to include decreased cerebral perfusion, neuroinflammation and indications of oxidative stress. Did I lose you? Yeah, me, too…so here’s the lowdown:

Cerebral perfusion means blood flow in the brain. Several studies using SPECT and PET scans show that autistic brains often have decreased blood flow in the temporal regions, which correlates with the clinical findings of self-stimulation and impairments in communications, sensory perception and social interaction.

Recent studies have also revealed that autism is characterized by neuroinflammation (inflammation in the brain). In fact, the spinal fluid of autistic patients has been shown to have autoantibodies that fight against peptides in the brain. And the inflammation isn’t just in the brain – the stomach, small intestine and colon are all impacted. This is the theory behind much of the biomed interventions, such as the GF/CF diet. The idea is to reduce the intestinal inflammation (and the neuroflammation) and produce healthier chemicals that control neurological functioning.

Other recent studies have shown that oxidative stress is increased in autistic children as compared to both neurotypical children and those with mental retardation. What this means is that autistic children’s bodies are less able to use antioxidants in the correct way, so the levels of free radicals in their system can become toxic lin the brain.

How does HBOT help this?

Doctors believe that HBOT may work to improve all three of these issues. HBOT increases oxygen in the plasma and body tissues and even oxygenates tissues that have been damaged or deprived of oxygen. It has also been shown to reduce inflammation in animals with arthritis and lupus and in humans with colitis. So, it is plausible that HBOT may reduce inflammation in both the brain and the gastrointestinal systems of autistic children.

In studies on oxidative stress and HBOT, some researchers have hypothesized that HBOT actually increases oxidative stress, and there has been some support for this in research studies done at high pressure (2.5 ATA and above). But many studies have demonstrated that HBOT actually lowers oxidative stress, and doctors believe that combining mHBOT with taking antioxidants is the best way to reduce oxidative stress and maximize the potential for improvement.

So Does it Work?

Well, the only research case study that I’ve been able to find using autistic children is one done by Rossignol & Rossignol, in which all the subjects made significant improvements after 40 HBOT sessions. From a scientific standpoint, the study size is too small and there were too many other variables (like other therapies some of the subjects were pursuing) to draw any definitive conclusions.

But, from a mom’s perspective, after 40 sessions of mHBOT, something has happened to LuLu’s brain. It has had an impact on her communication and language center. And even before reading this study that so eloquently explained how that could be true – I had noticed the difference. And that’s why we are headed back into the chamber this fall for even more sessions.