ADD/ADHD and HBOT
Can Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) be acquired or is it a condition that exists from birth? In the United States it is suggested that between 5% and 10% of children and 3% to 6% of adults have a diagnosis of ADD.
While ADD has been a diagnosed disorder for hundreds of years, it seems to have become more prevalent in recent years. Although genetics, infections and brain trauma or damage have been cited as causes of ADD, many believe the rising number of cases seen today are due to the increased use of chemicals, preservatives, pollutants, food allergies or heavy metal toxicity (such as lead, mercury and cadmium).

Studies published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition have also suggested that toxic chemical exposure such as solvents, pesticides, mold toxins and others; can significantly affect brain function in children and adults. These effects may last for years after toxic exposure has stopped or may present in adulthood when there was no evidence of ADD during childhood or adolescence.

In a study conducted by G. Heuser, MD, PhD, O. Aguilera, MD, S. Heuser, MA, J. Reeves and C. Rogowski, HBO therapy was administered one or twice daily for a total of ten treatments to a group of young adults and adults diagnosed with ADD. The sessions were conducted using mild or portable chamber at 1.3 ATA, using 24% oxygen. Each treatment lasted one hour. All patients showed improvement after only ten sessions of HBO therapy. Improvement was optimal when the patient had no more toxic exposure at all and was now living/working in a toxic-free environment. SPECT brain scans showed further improvement when HBO therapy was extended to a total of twenty or more sessions.

In another research project HBO therapy was shown to have an increase in overall cognitive skills even in the absence of an ADD diagnosis. The Division of Psychology, University of North Umbria, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK studied the affects of oxygen administration in memory function. The study subjects were given oxygen immediately prior to learning a word list. The results showed a significant increase in mean number of words recalled 10 minutes later, compared to subjects who underwent HBO therapy immediately prior to recall or to controls that underwent no intervention. In a second experiment, the learning-test interval was increased to 24 hours and again, only pre-learning (but not pre-test) oxygen administration resulted in significant memory facilitation. Researchers state, We interpret this data as indicating that increased availability of cerebral oxygen facilitates cognition, including memory consolidation. 

 

Oxygen8 Wellness Center and its use of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy are not intended to cure or diagnose any medical conditions. All healthcare programs should be discussed with your doctor. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.