RCT 2009
From the library

Hyperbaric treatment for children with autism — multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial

Rossignol et al.

BMC Pediatrics n = 62 1.3 ATA 40 sessions
Plain English

This widely-cited multicenter trial enrolled 62 children with autism in a double-blind protocol. The treatment group received 1.3 ATA — the lowest pressure typically used clinically. Even at this gentle pressure with only slightly enriched oxygen, the children in the active group showed improvements in receptive language, eye contact, and social interaction. The study is influential because it established that you do not need 2.0 ATA chambers to get neurological benefit — a finding that drives the modern home-chamber industry, which centers on the well-tolerated 1.3 to 1.5 ATA range.

Key findings

What the trial documented.

  • Improvements in receptive language, social interaction, and eye contact
  • Demonstrated efficacy at low pressure (1.3 ATA) and ambient oxygen
  • Established that mild HBOT can be effective even with reduced oxygen concentration

Rossignol and colleagues ran one of the first controlled tests of hyperbaric treatment in autism, and it is frequently cited for a specific reason: it used a very low pressure.

What the study looked at

A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial enrolled 62 children with autism (ages 2-7). Children received 40 hourly sessions of either hyperbaric treatment at 1.3 atm with 24% oxygen (treatment group, n=33) or slightly pressurized room air at 1.03 atm with 21% oxygen (control group, n=29). Outcomes included the Clinical Global Impression scale and behavioral rating scales.

What it found

The authors reported improvements in the treatment group on measures such as overall functioning, receptive language, and social interaction, relative to control.

How strong is the evidence?

Results in autism HBOT research are mixed and later studies have not consistently replicated benefit, so this should be read as one positive controlled trial within a contested literature. Its lasting influence is in showing effects at 1.3 atm. Saturate does not yet have a dedicated autism page; this entry is indexed under neurological evidence.

Related on Saturate

See our evidence overview of HBOT and neurological conditions.

Source

Rossignol DA, et al. (2009). Hyperbaric treatment for children with autism: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. BMC Pediatrics. doi.org/10.1186/1471-2431-9-21 · PubMed

This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy carries genuine clinical risks; consult a qualified clinician. Read our full medical disclaimer.

Protocol used

1.3 ATA, 24% oxygen, 60-minute sessions, 5 days/week for 40 sessions

Full citation

Rossignol et al.. Hyperbaric treatment for children with autism — multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. BMC Pediatrics. 2009.

DOI →

Medical disclaimer

This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy carries genuine clinical risks; consult a qualified clinician before starting any protocol. Full disclaimer →