FoggyRock General Forum

I am a certified orthotist, I make orthopedic braces, and I have a son on the spectrum.  About five years ago hyperbaric chamber treatments became really popular for treating cerebral palsy (CP).  Since insurance wouldn't pay for it people took their children to a local chiroprator.  They had to pay in advance for multiple sessions.  It was touted as a 'cure' for CP.  Anecdotally, people would say their child seemed more relaxed, or less spastic, initially.  However, by the end of the sessions no recognizable improvements were made.

The only child that I saw both before and after was a child who was a near drowning victim at under 1 year of age.  He had terrible spasticity that was unaffected by hyperbaric treatments.

I had a discussion just two days ago with a pediatric physiatrist who works in the Shriners system, who has two children on the spectrum.  He said that he had investigated all the literature and studies regarding hyperbaric treatment of childrem with autism and said that, in truth, there is no documented studies.  He said that all the literature that he could find was actually quoting results of hyperbaric treatment on patients with 'the bends' and was disseptively represented as results on children with CP or autism.

Norval Joe

I wouldn't buy a chamber without trying it out first.  It helps some kids.  My friend was in the study that did ABA in the chamber and recorded improvement.  He son went from being classifed as severe to mild/moderated.  They bought a chamber and use it regularly.