Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy For Autism in Des Moines, Iowa
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy near me is ideally suited for patients afflicted with Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Autism is a result of wounding insults to the brain combined with inflammation. HBOT in Des Moines works best by treating wounds as well as suppressing and treating inflammation
AUTISM
WHAT IS AUTISM AND WHY IS IT ON A SPECTRUM
Autism is a pediatric affliction defined by possessing repetitive behaviors, deficits in social skills as well as speech and nonverbal communication. Previously, the diagnosis of autism was given to a child who went about a set score on a special rating questionnaire. If the child was above the accepted line, they had autism; if it was below the threshold, they did not. Autism diagnosis has changed over the past few years, creating a new diagnosis called Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). ASD is diagnosed in children who show the above deficits as well as a selection of additional symptoms that exist on a gradient of severities from mild (Asperger’s syndrome) to severe. According to the CDC in 2022, 1 in 44 children in the US alone are affected by this condition.
There is great difficulty in the medical world when it comes to treating those diagnosed with ASD due to the broad range of symptoms these children can show. There are many different combinations of symptoms that can be described as subtypes. Each one of these subtypes present different combination of strengths and challenges.
Unfortunately, there is no singular cause of autism, but it appears to be largely influence by environmental factors. The key to understanding ASD patients is to understand they they are not dealing with a psychiatric condition, but a biological condition which has led to wounding of the brain. In some, inflammation is dominant and/or there is disconnect between parts of the brain. In others, it is simply unknown. Commonly, on blood flow scans of the brain, Autistic patients show a lack of blood flow to the temporal and frontal lobes of the brain. These areas are responsible for speech and communication as well as critical thinking, respectively.
EFFECTS OF AUTISM
Autism is usually diagnosed by two to three years of age, but many times, symptoms are noticed by 18 months. Some can even show symptoms by 6 months. Patients with autism often have difficulty with three areas of development: Social Interactions, Language Processing, and Behavior. Symptoms vary among individuals from mild to severe, but common symptoms are listed below.
Social Skills
Little to no eye contact
Do not respond to their name
Unable to create friendships with their peers
No interest in sharing interests with others
Unable to understand other’s emotions
Generally like being alone, rather than groups
Often have their own world
Language Skills
No speech at all, or delayed when they do speak
Does not understand simple instructions
Lose ability to form words or sentences compared to prior conversations
Repeats words exactly as they were spoken, without understanding how to use them
Cannot begin or maintain conversation
Behavioral Symptoms
Cannot sit still
Initiates repetitive motions, like rocking back and forth
Easily frustrated with a change in routine
Unusually sensitive to light, touch or sound
Infatuated with certain topics
Extremely specific self inflicted diet
Often times, individuals only think of these challenges when it comes to autism, but patients may display other positive symptoms. These can be unusual talents or abilities.
These include:
Remarkable memory
Strong visual and auditory learning
Extreme intelligence in school subjects
HYPERBARIC OXYGEN
TREATMENT OF AUTISM
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy near me is a treatment for wounds in any location and of any duration. In patients with autism, brain wounds or inflammation are very common. In these cases HBOT is ideally suited due to its effects on wound healing and inflammation suppression and treatment. In rare cases, autism can be attributed to genetic factors and hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be beneficial under these circumstances. HBOT has been shown to turn on or off over 40% of all human genes, which is around 8,101 genes.
The largest group of genes that are affected are associated with growth and repair hormone genes, as well as the anti-inflammatory genes. Regardless of cause, HBOT in Des Moines in those afflicted with autism allows for healing of the brain. It does this by providing the afflicted areas with the proper amount of oxygen and pressure, all with minimal side effects.
The benefits for those with autism are truly astounding. This is due to the benefit hyperbaric oxygen therapy provides to the underlying disease processes that cause autism. This has been proven in study after study. Therefore, by treating the underlying causes, it benefits the condition itself. Common benefits those with autism and their loved ones report are as follows
Improvements in social skills
Decrease in repetitive behaviors
Increase in digestion
Increase in sensory skills, language processing and even emotional regulation
WHY COME TO CLARITY FOR HYPERBARIC
OXYGEN TREATMENT OF AUTISM
When standard medicine isn’t working, HBOT at Clarity Hyperbarics can be a great way to improve the patient’s quality of life. When seeking HBOT care of autism in Des Moines, Clarity is the one clinic in Iowa you should trust. We utilize a soft sided hyperbaric chamber that focuses on brain health and recovery. We follow the recommendations pioneered by Dr. Harsch, one of the leading pioneers in hyperbaric medicine. Hyperbarics were first used to treat an autistic patient in 1995. Since then, hundreds of patients have realized the benefit. With correct dosage, it is highly probable that HBOT in Des Moines will improve your autistic child.
CASE STUDY
Ben was a five year old boy whose mother had diabetes in her last trimester of pregnancy, which was not appreciated by her obstetrician until the time of delivery. However, delivery was 2 weeks after her due date in 1990. After a prolonged 30 hours of induced labor, Ben was born with a grossly misshapen head at 12 lbs. 10 oz. He had meconium staining of the amniotic fluid, a sign of fetal distress, and low APGARS (the grading system used to characterize a newborn baby’s viability). He required resuscitation that resulted in intubation in the nursery.
Once home he was clearly abnormal and he showed developmental delays. Ben was eventually evaluated by a neurologist for high muscle tone on the right side of his body, cognitive problems and repetitive autistic behaviors. These autistic behaviors included emotional detachment from his mother and siblings, a learning disability, speech problems, no socialization and frequent staring spells. EEGs were abnormal, but an MRI of the brain only showed a small (1/4 inch) clump of abnormal blood vessels that had nothing to do with Ben’s problems. His Childhood Autism Rating Scale score was 29 (clearly on the autism spectrum, but 1 point shy of the threshold used for the diagnosis of overt autism in 1993).
Ben underwent a single SPECT brain blood flow scan which showed abnormalities in both temporal and frontal lobes. This improved after a single HBOT session (see scans). He continued HBOT for 35 treatments, took a break, and returned to New Orleans for an additional 28 HBOTs that was truncated by a family emergency, requiring his return home. During and after the HBOT, Ben experienced an improvement in his cognition (see sequential drawings below at 35 and 63 treatments), school performance, interaction with his brother, emotional attachment to his mother for the first time in his life, improved motor function on the right side of his body, gait, coordination, and communication. Six months later his EEG had worsened, yet he spontaneously said to his mother, “it is so much better not living in the dark anymore.”
Case study courtesy of Dr. Harch.
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