Hyperbarics is often described as an 'emerging treatment' for a variety of childhood diagnosis.
Now, neurologists are testing hyperbaric oxygen therapy to see if it eases symptoms of brain injured children.
According to Ohio's Middletown Journal, 48 children with cerebral palsy are participating in a $1.77 million federally funded study at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
Donovan Scruggs, 6, is one of the participants.
According to the Journal, Donovan's mother, Ebony, says she entered him in the study to help research.
When inside the hyperbaric chamber, the child receives high concentrations of oxygen. The theory behind the treatment is that high doses of oxygen may be able to revive damaged or dormant cells in the patient's brains.
HBOT is approved to treat non-healing wounds, radiation injuries, carbon monoxide poisoning and the "bends,'' which is a condition suffered by scuba divers who surface too quickly. It's use for neurological disorders, however, is controversial.
The following local news broadcast announces the results of the 1999 McGill University (Montgomery) study of HBOT for cerebral palsy.
In July 2008, CP Discovery brought you it's own explainer on Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.
The following is our segment on how it works.
Plus, why Occupational Therapist, Hulet Smith, and co-founder of CP Discovery believes in it's potential.
Funding for CP Discovery is provided by www.rehabmart.com
