Therapies for Cerebral Palsy

Study finds both HBOT and HBAT groups showed improvements

cptreatments@gmail.com (Andy) — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 22:59:00 -0600

Well, I can't believe it's been almost 5 YEARS since I've posted any updates. Our son is now in first grade and is doing well, all things considered. He is very mobile, energetic and also nonverbal which really makes communication difficult at times. That being said, he has continued making steady improvements over the years and is a great kid.

What prompted this post was an email from a friend with a recently published HBOT study. Granted, this wasn't an HIE or CP study, but it was still looking at the effectiveness of HBOT (1.5 ATA, 100% oxygen) and HBAT (1.2 ATA, room air) in treating the brain (post concussion symptoms).

What I found interesting in this study published 11/21/2014 is that it shows similar findings as the Canada study in the 1990's. Compared with the no intervention group, HBOT and HBAT groups both showed improvement in symptoms!

The Listening Program

cptreatments@gmail.com (Andy) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 22:57:00 -0500

Our son has just started week 4 of The Listening Program (TLP). The entire program will take 20 weeks to complete and involves listening to 15 minutes of music using special headphones twice a day, 5 days a week. So far it's a bit of a challenge keeping the headphones on him for each listening session, but a walk in his stroller or some time in his swing usually does the trick.

We noticed that some of his undesired behaviors seemed to increase the first couple of weeks, and are now decreasing as the program progresses. The OT that suggested this program for our son equated it to cleaning out a messy closet - if your brain were a closet :) Hopefully his "closet" is in the process of becoming better organized.

Case studies and research can be found here.

Stem Cells and Brain Injury

cptreatments@gmail.com (Andy) — Mon, 1 Feb 2010 09:29:00 -0600

There have been a couple studies regarding stem cells and brain injury that I've recently come across and found interesting.

The first study I'd like to point out to is an animal study that transplanted embryonic stem cells into the brains of newborn mice. The study showed that the stem cells not only integrated into specific regions of the brain, but also linked correctly with surrounding neurons. Due to my personal beliefs I do not condone the use of embryonic stem cells, but the research is certainly promising. Read more about the study here.

The second study I'd like to call attention to is a clinical trial using adult stem cells derived from patients own bone marrow. It looks like preliminary results of the study should be published in a few months and we'll know more at that time. Intrathecal Stem Cells in Brain Injury (ISC)

Finally, Dr. Joanne Kurtzberg at Duke University is using children's own umbilical cord blood to treat cerebral palsy, among other things. Read more about this therapy from Ellen, a parent who's son received this therapy.

Hyperbaric Oxygenation for Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy

cptreatments@gmail.com (Andy) — Mon, 4 Jan 2010 13:41:00 -0600

I recently read a blog entry titled "Why we don’t use hyperbaric oxygen for cerebral palsy but the Chinese do" and it got me thinking once again about hyperbarics and how it has helped our son. The post is a short commentary about hyperbarics and governments' willingness (or unwillingness) to utilize the therapy to treat brain injury.

The blog post references an article, the summary of which is below.

“Treatment with hyperbaric oxygen possibly reduces mortality and neurological sequelae in term neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Because of the poor quality of reporting in all trials and the possibility of publication bias, an adequately powered, high quality randomised controlled trial is needed to investigate these findings. The Chinese medical literature may be a rich source of evidence to inform clinical practice and other systematic reviews.”
-Clinical effectiveness of treatment with hyperbaric oxygen for neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy: systematic review of Chinese literature (published 11 May 2006)

After doing much research (some of which I've written about on this blog) we decided to provide our son with 40 hours of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) when he was 12 months old. Because he responded so well to his first round of HBOT, including decreased spasticity and increased vision, we went back for 40 more sessions 6 months later, this time coupled with intensive pediatric therapy. We witnessed continued improvements. Our son is now over 2 years old and we recently made the decision to purchase a soft chamber to provide him with hyperbaric air therapy (HBT or HBAT) at home.

We made this decision in part because the studies I am aware of have shown improvements in patients treated with pressurized room air (HBT or HBAT) as well as patients breathing oxygen in a hyperbaric environment (HBOT). Due to the increased atmospheric pressure, both groups benefit from increased oxygen absorption.

"The results of the only truly randomized trial were difficult to interpret because of the use of pressurized room air in the control group. As both groups improved, the benefit of pressurized air and of HBOT at 1.3 to 1.5 atm should both be examined in future studies."
-Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Brain Injury, Cerebral Palsy, and Stroke

Therapeutic Listening

cptreatments@gmail.com (Andy) — Mon, 7 Dec 2009 19:58:00 -0600

Two separate occupational therapists have told us about Therapeutic Listening and how is might help our son, so we thought we'd look into it. Our son tends to get upset when he hears sudden loud noises like a hair dryer, coffee grinder, vacuum cleaner, etc. What's interesting is that if we tell him about what we're doing or let him touch the item before it makes noise, he's much calmer. At any rate, we're considering finding a Therapeutic Listening trained therapist to work with our son.

==============
The following information is copied directly from "A brief introduction to Therapeutic Listening":

"Therapeutic Listening coupled with Sensory Integration (SI) tends to speed the emergence of:
- Attention
- Organized behavior
- Self regulation
- Postural control
- Bilateral coordination
- Praxis
- Fine motor control
- Oral motor/articulation
- Social skills
- Communication
- Visual motor integration

What is Therapeutic Listening?

Therapeutic Listening (TL) is an expansion of Sensory Integration. It is an auditory intervention that uses the organized sound patterns inherent in music to impact all levels of the nervous system. Auditory information from Therapeutic Listening CDs provides direct input to both the vestibularand the auditory portions of the vestibular-cochlear continuum. The emphasis of TL is onblending sound intervention strategies with vestibulo-proprioceptive, core development, and breath activities so as to sustain grounding and centering of the body and mind in space and time. Providing these postural, movement, and respiratory activities as part of the TL program is critical. Therapeutic Listening utilizes numerous CDs that vary in musical style, types of filtering, and level of complexity. The music on Therapeutic Listening CDs is electronically altered to elicit the orienting response which sets up the body for sustained attention and active listening."

Chiropractic Care

cptreatments@gmail.com (Andy) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:04:00 -0500

We've recently started to look into chiropractic care for our son. I've read that chiropractors can sometimes help with posture and neurological function. Our son has had one adjustment several months ago, just before his last month of HBOT. It's something that we've not really had time to pursue until now, and seems to make a lot of sense. Check out the links below for some case studies specific to chiropractic care and cerebral palsy.

Improvement in a Child with Cerebral Palsy Undergoing Subluxation Based Chiropractic Care

Cerebral Palsy Helped With Chiropractic Care, Four Case Studies

2009 H1N1 swine flu vaccine : Q&A

cptreatments@gmail.com (Andy) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:24:00 -0500

I was browsing through the CDC website to find out more information about the H1N1 vaccine and thought I'd share some direct quotes from the general Q&A on H1N1 vaccine safety, as well as links to other reputable US government sources of information.

General Questions and Answers on 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine Safety
"Will the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccines be safe?
We expect the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine to have a similar safety profile as seasonal flu vaccines, which have a very good safety track record. Over the years, hundreds of millions of Americans have received seasonal flu vaccines. The most common side effects following flu vaccinations are mild, such as soreness, redness, tenderness or swelling where the shot was given. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be closely monitoring for any signs that the vaccine is causing unexpected adverse events and we will work with state and local health officials to investigate any unusual events.

Are there some people who should not receive this vaccine?
People who have a severe (life-threatening) allergy to chicken eggs or to any other substance in the vaccine should not be vaccinated.

Will the benefits of the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccines outweigh the risks? Is this something I should talk to my healthcare provider about?
Currently the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus (sometimes called “swine flu”) virus seems to be causing serious health outcomes for:

healthy young people from birth through age 24;
pregnant women; and
adults 25 to 64 who have underlying medical conditions.

Seasonal influenza vaccines are highly effective in preventing influenza disease. The expectation is that a vaccine against 2009 H1N1 influenza would probably work in a similar fashion to the seasonal influenza vaccines. CDC and FDA believe that the benefits of vaccination with the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine will far outweigh the risks.

What is the best source of information for 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine safety?
In addition to talking openly with your healthcare providers, CDC also encourages you to stay informed by checking the following Web sites often for the most up-to-date news and information: www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu and http://www.flu.gov/."

Edited to add my personal opinion:
==============================
Whether or not to have your child vaccinated for H1N1 is a very personal decision. That said, we are not planning to vaccinate our son due to his egg allergies and the fact the the vaccine has been fast-tracked. Verbiage like "expectation", "would probably" and "unusual events" from the above direct quotes, coupled with the fact that the substances in the vaccine have not been disclosed yet do play a part in our decision. I feel it's important to individually weigh the pros and cons for your child.

H1N1 swine flu and kids with cerebral palsy

cptreatments@gmail.com (Andy) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 22:34:00 -0500

I've read some posts on other blogs, including Ellen's post at To The Max, about H1N1 swine flu and concerns of how this may affect kids with epilepsy, cerebral palsy, or other neurodevelopmental conditions in the coming months.

The CDC report states that, of the thirty-six (36) pediatric deaths associated with H1N1 in the US in 2009, twenty-four (24) were kids with high-risk medical conditions. Of this high risk group:
"... 92% had neurodevelopmental conditions (e.g., developmental delay or cerebral palsy), a finding consistent with the results from a study of influenza-associated mortality during the 2003--04 influenza season."

I've read a bunch of information on this topic and found an interesting article linking low vitamin D with increased flu death risk in kids. Here's a quick quote from the article:
"All of these neurological conditions are associated with childhood Vitamin D deficiency. Exacerbating the problem further, many of these kids take anticonvulsant drugs, which lower Vitamin D levels."

I've written about Vitamin D before, and this research only solidifies our decision to continue to test and supplement our sons Vitamin D3 levels.

The Oxygen Paradigm

cptreatments@gmail.com (Andy) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 12:31:00 -0500

This is a lecture by Dr. Philip James at the 2001 International Symposium of Hyperbaric Oxygen for the Brain-Injured Child. I think Dr. James gives a good overview of reasons to utilize HBOT for brain injury.

Nutrition

cptreatments@gmail.com (Andy) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 22:24:00 -0500

So much of development is tied to proper nutrition.

Our son has food allergies and oral-motor difficulties with solid foods, which makes it difficult to ensure that he's getting all the nutrition he needs. So, we've consulted with a chiropractor nutritionist who suggested a nutrition test called a Pediatric ION (Individual Optimal Nutrition) profile. The test measures essential minerals, vitamins, fatty acids, and amino acids, among other things and recommends supplements based on these test results.

We recently received the test results and will be adjusting his supplements based on his individual needs. I like this because it tells us exactly what his body needs, so we're not supplementing unnecessary items.

Serial Casting

cptreatments@gmail.com (Andy) — Fri, 29 May 2009 11:52:00 -0500

We first heard about serial casting during our son's month of intensive pediatric therapy. His PT told us about children they had worked with who were able to postpone or avoid surgery for muscle tightness using this approach.

Serial Casting - quoted from St. Joseph's Children's Hospital of Tampa

"Serial casting is a noninvasive procedure that helps children and adults improve their range of motion so they can perform daily activities with less difficulty. It is a process in which a well-padded cast is used to immobilize a joint that is lacking full range of motion. The cast will be applied and removed on a weekly basis. Each cast gradually increases the range of motion in the affected joint.

Who benefits from Serial Casting?
Muscle tightness can manifest itself in many ways and for various reasons. Doctors refer patients for serial casting to help improve overall quality of life. Serial casting helps patients who have a variety of disorders including:

Cerebral palsy
Spina bifida
Brain or spinal cord injury
Congenital abnormalities
Muscular dystrophy
Idiopathic toe walking
Peripheral neuropathy

Why would a physician refer for Serial Casting?

Serial casting is a non-surgical approach aimed at reducing muscle tightness around a joint that is limiting range of motion and functional mobility.
Serial casting assists in achieving the optimum alignment of a joint. It also helps prepare a joint for the use of further orthopedic devices such as braces, splints, etc.
Serial casting may help decrease the chance of a deformity developing and/or progressing due to abnormal weight-bearing.
Serial casting is a safe and effective way to increase range of motion and improve functional mobility. It may help eliminate, delay, or minimize the need for surgical intervention.

What happens during a Serial Casting session?
Muscle strength and range of motion of the affected joint will be assessed prior to application of the cast. A team of specially trained therapists will apply the cast in the joint’s optimal position and range. Instruction about care of the cast and precautions will be reviewed with the family and patient.

How long will I need to come for cast changes?
Casts will be changed on a weekly basis until a target range-of-motion goal is achieved. Predicting the number of casting sessions is difficult, as each individual responds to the casting procedure at different rates. Typically, the casting procedure is completed in 4-6 weeks.

What happens after the casting is finished?
The physician determines what may be needed in terms of orthotics (braces, splints, etc.) to help maintain the newly gained range of motion.

How does Serial Casting affect the patient and family?
A short accommodation time will be required, as the cast has added weight and the joint is now immobile. A walking cast and cast shoe allow children to walk during the period of casting. Daily routines are not altered significantly and patients can stay very active, participating in school and normal activities. The biggest challenge is keeping the cast dry. Sponge bathing is necessary to avoid getting the cast wet."

Phosphatidylcholine (PC) : PhosChol

cptreatments@gmail.com (Andy) — Wed, 20 May 2009 20:52:00 -0500

Phosphatidylcholine (PC) is a phospholipid and a major source of choline. I found out about a PC supplement, PhosChol, from a fellow parent who has a son diagnosed with Guanidinoacetate methyltrasferase deficiency. You can read more about John at Mommy Klor. After consulting with a doctor, I started giving the supplement to our son on 05/06/09.

It's been about two weeks, and our son seems to be opening and using his hands more than before we started the choline supplement. One of his therapists comment recently that he's using his hands and keeping them open more than before. It's hard to conclusively say that it's only the choline supplement, but his hand improvements seem to correlate with the introduction of PhosChol.

Doctors at the University of Colorado are seeing if choline taken during pregnancy by mothers can prevent mental illness in children. You can read more about their work at Choline Baby.

Botox : FDA instructs manufacturers to add boxed warning about possible negative effects

cptreatments@gmail.com (Andy) — Mon, 4 May 2009 00:52:00 -0500

Botox has been used by doctors in recent years to help manage muscle spasticity. I've heard many success stories and some warnings about using Botox to treat spasticity. I don't have any personal experience with this use of Botox and our son's physiatrist has never mentioned that he would recommend it for our son. I've included links and quotes below from a few sources, including the FDA. Hopefully this FDA warning will help parents make informed decisions about their children's treatment.

Botox helps kids with CP
"...the drug forces the stronger contracting muscles to relax, a condition that lasts for a few months. During that time, physical therapists can work with the child to develop the weaker muscles that control extension. Although it's not appropriate for all children with CP, the treatment may help some move normally."

The Latest on Botox for Cerebral Palsy
"The FDA, which has never approved botulinim toxin for this use, issued instructions to manufacturers to add a boxed warning on labels about possible negative effects."

"Will these precautions make you less likely to seek this treatment for your child? Or have you had such success with it that you're willing to take the risk?"

Follow-up to the February 8, 2008, Early Communication about an Ongoing Safety Review of Botox and Botox Cosmetic (Botulinum toxin Type A) and Myobloc (Botulinum toxin Type B)
"As the result of an ongoing safety review, FDA has notified the manufacturers of licensed botulinum toxin products of the need to strengthen warnings in product labeling, and add a boxed warning, regarding the risk of adverse events when the effects of the toxin spread beyond the site where it was injected."

"Botulinum toxin products have been approved by FDA for one or more of the following uses: temporary improvement in the appearance of glabellar lines (frown lines between the eyebrows), treatment of strabismus (crossed eyes), blepharospasm (abnormal tics and twitches of the eyelids), cervical dystonia (involuntary sustained or repetitive contraction of the neck muscles), and primary axillary hyperhidrosis (severe underarm sweating). For these uses, botulinum toxin is injected into the skin or into muscle tissue."

"In pediatric postmarketing adverse event case reports, botulinum toxin products were mostly used to treat muscle spasticity in cerebral palsy, a use that has not been approved by the FDA. The reported cases of spread of botulinum toxin effect beyond the site of injection were described as botulism, or involved symptoms including difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, muscular weakness, drooping eyelids, constipation, aspiration pneumonia, speech disorder, facial drooping, double vision, or respiratory depression. Serious case reports described hospitalizations involving ventilatory support and reports of death."

"...healthcare professionals who use botulinum toxin products should understand that these adverse events have been reported as early as several hours and as late as several weeks after treatment."

Allergan to Resolve Botox Safety Labels
"Most deaths and serious problems were seen in children treated for cerebral palsy-associated limb spasticity, the FDA said."

Blues for Botox? 'Black box' warning, slumping economy, competitors may impact dominance
"Typically reserved for medications associated with serious or life-threatening risks, the "black box" warning is one of the strongest safety actions the agency takes. The FDA noted that problems with botulinum toxin had occurred mainly in patients receiving overdoses for unapproved therapeutic treatments, such as use in limb spasticity in children with cerebral palsy."

Olive Oil

cptreatments@gmail.com (Andy) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:15:00 -0500

We've been giving our son organic olive oil since he was around one year old, initially to provide him with some healthy calories since he was mainly eating, and continues to mainly eat organic baby food and some pureed table food. Much of the following information is taken from the book Brain-Building Nutrition.

Olive oil is high in the Omega-9 fatty acid oleic acid and rich in antioxidants and phytonutrients. Organic cold-pressed virgin or extra virgin olive oil is preferred. It has also been shown to elevate HDL "good" cholesterol, which might have an important affect on preserving brain function. In terms of overall health value, olive oil is one of the most important.

Fatty acid content:
Omega-6 = 8 percent
Omega-9 = 82 percent

Brain-Building Nutrition: How Dietary Fats and Oils Affect Mental, Physical, and Emotional Intelligence

cptreatments@gmail.com (Andy) — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:45:00 -0500

I just finished reading a book by Michael A Schmidt, PhD on the importance of dietary fats and oils and our intelligence. I thought it was a good read covering the different fats and oils that we consume and how they affect our brain.

The book includes a small section on cerebral palsy. The author writes: "Looking carefully at the fatty acid status of any child with cerebral palsy seems to be an important step in fostering recovery. Supplementation with fatty acids may allow slow restoration of some functions and may lead to an improved quality of life."

Without giving away too much of the book, here are some strategies for healing with fats and oils:

Determine the Ideal Omega-3
Balance Omega-6 and Omega-3
Keep Your Carbohydrates Balanced
Eliminate Trans Fatty Acids
Eat Brightly Colored Fruits and Vegetables
Remember Important Brain Minerals
Use Spices That Help to Balance the Messengers and Protect the Brain
Include Mitochondrial Nutrients
Enrich with the Sulfur-Bearing Nutrients
Get Adequate Methyl Donors
Get Enough Sleep
Exercise

I highly recommend reading this book to better understand the nutritional importance and brain benefits of the right balance of fats and oils.

Brain-Building Nutrition: How Dietary Fats and Oils Affect Mental, Physical, and Emotional Intelligence

Vitamin D

cptreatments@gmail.com (Andy) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0500

Vitamin D is an important fat-soluble vitamin that promotes bone mineralization, enhances the immune system, and works as a neurohormone to stimulate proper brain development.

Our son has food allergies and we had his vitamin D levels tested the last time he had a blood draw to test for food allergies. Be sure to get a 25(OH)D vitamin D test before starting any oral supplementation. Our sons vitamin D levels were low and we've increased his oral supplementation accordingly. We'll be getting a repeat 25(OH)D test soon and and may supplement less since it's now spring and he'll be getting more vitamin D from sun exposure.

Deep Pressure and Proprioceptive Technique (DPPT) or the Walbarger Brushing Technique and Joint Compression

cptreatments@gmail.com (Andy) — Sun, 5 Apr 2009 14:49:00 -0500

Our son doesn't like us to touch his right hand and always makes a "yucky" face with the first bite of every meal. We continue to expose his hands to different textures, which will hopefully help desensitize his hands. He seems to have decreased proprioception in his hands and feet, as well as some tactile sensitivity.

If you're anything like me, you're probably thinking "What is proprioception?". Well, proprioception means "one's own" perception. It is the awareness or sense of one's own limbs in space. I found this information from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-proprioception.htm interesting "Without proprioception, we'd need to consciously watch our feet to make sure that we stay upright while walking." Our son does tend to watch his feet while walking.

One technique that may help with these issues is Deep Pressure and Proprioceptive Technique (DPPT) or the Walbarger Brushing Technique and Joint Compression.

** This should only be done with supervision from an Occupational or Physical Therapist. **

The brushing technique was developed by Dr. Patricia Wilbarger. Dr. Wilbarger, is an occupational therapist and clinical psychologist who has been working with sensory processing theories for over 30 years.

"The DPPT uses a specific pattern of stimulation delivered through a specific type of brush and gentle joint compression or “pushing” to send information to the brain in an organized fashion. Simply put, it primes the brain to receive and organize information in an effective and useful way. It is done approximately every two hours for a specified number of days and then according to the needs of the child. Consistency is a critical factor! However, the protocol can be administered in between scheduled sessions, to assisting with transitions between activities, reducing overwhelm reactions, and re- organizing the nervous system after emotional upset.

The brush used for this technique, is a soft plastic surgical brush. This brush has been found to be the most effective in stimulating nerve endings in the skin. The actual brushing is done using a very firm pressure, starting at the arms and working down to the feet, avoiding the chest and stomach. The brushing is slow and purposeful providing “proprioception” (input through muscles and joints.) It is not ‘scrubbing’, and should never be painful, or cause damage to the skin. Children may initially react with crying or other avoidance measures because it is new, and the re-organizing can be disquieting. Generally within a few sessions, it becomes pleasurable and children will often ask for it or do it themselves.

The joint compression is also done in a specific pattern; ten count repetition, using light pressure. Students can be taught to do this themselves, by using an alternative method of ‘wall’ push-ups, and jumping."

Sources: http://www.pbbkids.com/the_wilbarger_brushing_protocol.htm
http://ezinearticles.com/?Tactile-Defensiveness-The-Facts-About-the-Wilbarger-Brushing-Protocol&id=1776984

HBOT on Oprah

cptreatments@gmail.com (Andy) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 10:56:00 -0500

The hyperbaric chamber may look high-tech, but the concept is pretty simple.

When you take oxygen and pressurize it in a tube, Dr. Oz says the oxygen is forced into a person's cells. "It gets me to mobilize stem cells from my bone marrow," he says. "It gets those cells moving along so it goes out to heal areas. In some parts of the body, like the brain, where you don't always have a lot of oxygen in the tissues, it might improve memory. It might play a role in making those cells which have energy factories function more efficiently."

Oxygen therapy isn't just for people who want to live longer. It's also speeds up the healing process for wounds and helps repairs broken bones. If you're interested, Dr. Oz encourages you to seek out qualified technicians.

"They should usually be used in a hospital with folks really watching what's happening," he says. "You have to wear 100 percent cotton, because it's oxygen in there, and oxygen's combustible. If you have synthetic fabrics, those fabrics can rub and make a spark."

Source: Oprah.com :: High-Tech Ways to Extend Your Life

HBOT Effective Against Autism

cptreatments@gmail.com (Andy) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 18:17:00 -0500

Okay, this information isn't cerebral palsy specific, but I think it's worth mentioning. Both autism and cerebral palsy are based in the brain, so it's great to see a study that scientifically supports HBOT for such diagnoses.

A multicenter, randomoized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (the strongest kind of research) was published today that shows significant improvements in autistic children after 40 hours of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The study, A Controlled Trial of the Clinical Effects of Hyperbaric Therapy in Autistic Children, included 62 children with autism between the ages of 2 and 7 years of age who were randomly assigned to 40 hourly treatments of either hyperbaric treatment at 1.3 atmosphere (atm)and 24% oxygen or slightly pressurized room air at 1.03 atm and 21%oxygen.

To quote the study
"Children with autism who received hyperbaric treatment at 1.3 atm and 24% oxygen for 40 hourly sessions had significant improvements in overall functioning, receptive language, social interaction, eye contact, and sensory/cognitive awareness compared to children who received slightly pressurized room air."

For more details, please read the study - Hyperbaric treatment for children with autism: a multicenter, randomized, doubleblind, controlled trial

News storied regarding the research study:
Hyperbaric Therapy Called Effective Against Autism
Oxygen therapy benefit in autism

Tomatis

cptreatments@gmail.com (Andy) — Mon, 9 Mar 2009 22:53:00 -0500

The Tomatis method is suppose to re-educate the way a person listens. It's intensive therapy where children wear head phones and listen to music like Mozart that is filter out except for the high frequencies. Children also listen to their mothers voice after it's been modulated to replicate what the fetus hears in the womb. This is suppose to stimulate the brains desire to communicate. The method is named after Dr. Alfred Tomatis who developed the method. I found a good overview of the method here:

"In 1953, Dr. Alfred Tomatis said "The voice contains only the sounds which the ear hears." This quote basically sums up the process he created to reteach the ear to listen. The program begins with an initial assessment with a consultant to test present and potential hearing. The patient is also evaluated to ensure that auditory stimulation is the appropriate treatment. Then a program is custom made, but it follows a basic pattern. The Electronic Ear is a tape recorder where sound is filtered and frequency can be adjusted. Initially, workouts consist of sessions of listening to very high frequencies that stimulate the pre-natal sounds and reproduce the stages of development from an audial point of view. This training makes it possible to switch ear dominance, reteach the listening process. These passive exercises, which consist of listening to specific frequencies, are gradually combined with active exercises utilizing the voice to maintain the lessons learned. For language learning and transformation of words and pictures, beginning with pre-natal sounds enables a person to learn a language quicker and more efficiently. The first fifteen days usually require about two hours a day. Subsequent sessions are shorter, with up to one or two months between each session."

Some national media interviews can be viewed here.

What is the Tomatis Method?

MEDEK

cptreatments@gmail.com (Andy) — Mon, 9 Mar 2009 22:27:00 -0500

MEDEK stands for "Metodo Dinamico de Estimulacion Kinesica" or "Dynamic Method for Kinetic Stimulation". It is a therapy that claims to help develop gross motor skills by provoking automatic motor responses.

Cuevas Medek Exercise
The Canadian MEDEK Centre

Promising components developed to protect against cerebral palsy caused by oxygen deprevation at birth

cptreatments@gmail.com (Andy) — Tue, 3 Mar 2009 09:02:00 -0600

Northwestern University chemists have developed two compounds that have been shown effective in pre-clinical trials in protecting against cerebral palsy due to oxygen deprivation during or shortly after birth. The press release Stunning Finding: Compounds Protect Against Cerebral Palsy contains all the details, an excerpt of which is below:

"In developing the potential drugs, Silverman and his team were able to produce something that pharmaceutical companies so far have not: highly selective compounds that inhibit the enzyme found in brain cells that produces nitric oxide but that do not affect similar nitric oxide-producing enzymes found in endothelial and macrophage cells."

Scientists have not tested the compounds on humans yet, but the initial animal trials appear promising:

"None of the fetuses born to animals treated with the two compounds died; more than half of those born to untreated animals died. Eighty-three percent of animals treated with one of the compounds were born normal, with no cerebral palsy characteristics. Sixty-nine percent of animals treated with the other compound were born normal."

This research greatly interests me because our son has cerebral palsy caused by a lack of oxygen at birth. Don't get me wrong, I love my son for who he is, but I am also in support of research that may help to minimize the long-term impacts of infant brain injury.

Omega-3

cptreatments@gmail.com (Andy) — Tue, 3 Mar 2009 08:02:00 -0600

Since our son has been weaned, we've been supplementing his diet with Omega-3. DHA and EPA are both Omega-3 fatty acids. From what I've read, research has shown that most neurological benefits appear to come from DHA. You can find out more about Omega-3 and it's benefits by reading DHA Supports Brain Development and Protects Neurological Function.

I like the Nordic Naturals brand, specifically their Children's DHA, because it's tested by independent laboratories to have undetectable levels of heavy metals and other environmental contaminants.

Omega Resource Library : Children's Health and Development

Metagenics Ultracare for Kids Medical Food

cptreatments@gmail.com (Andy) — Tue, 3 Mar 2009 07:48:00 -0600

Our son has allergies to milk and eggs, so Metagenics Ultracare for Kids Medical Food has been a big help to ensure that he's getting the nutrients he needs. We blend the product with organic rice milk, which he drinks at least twice a day. "Ultracare for Kids" is rice based, which has worked well for him. We tried a corn syrup solids based medical food and he seemed to have more digestion issues with corn syrup solids based medical food.

Cool-Cap treatment fosters hope for infants

cptreatments@gmail.com (Andy) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 07:39:00 -0600

"Oxygen-deprived newborns now stand a fighting chance against permanent brain damage through innovative technological advances involving controlled-temperature treatment.

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital offers a new treatment involving the Olympic Cool-Cap System, which combines a continuous flow of cooling water connected to the cap and an infant’s head, according to a press release.

“This therapy offers hope for a situation and condition that we previously did not have anything to nto before,” said Dr. Daniel Hirsch, an attending neonatologist in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital.

While the cap is connected, the infant has a body temperature three to four degrees below normal, according to the release.

The hospital’s informational fact sheet said that infants who qualify for the treatment are full-term newborns affected by prenatal asphyxia and diagnosed with acute hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

HIE is a condition in which the infant’s brain does not receive enough oxygen, and it occurs about two to three times per every thousand births, according to the fact sheet. Infants who suffer from this condition endure such long-term damage as cerebral palsy, delayed development, seizures and even death.

“We know that the babies suffering moderate to severe brain injury due to lack of oxygen will do better, not only in the short term but in the long term as well, which has been seen through large group trials,” said Hirsch, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the RWJUH of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

Babies up to one and a half years old who received the treatement were developing better than those who did not receive the treatment, he said.

“There are follow up studies in the trial to measure the benefits and effectiveness to persist to even six or seven years in life,” Hirsch said.

A stand-alone unit carefully regulates and monitors the water temperature and the infant’s scalp, abdominal wall and rectal temperatures to about 34 to 35 degrees Celsius, Hirsch said.

“We will get the brain cool enough to slow down the biochemical reactions that have started secondary due to lack of oxygen to the brain,” Hirsch said.

Applying the Cool-Cap treatment within the first six hours of birth for 72 hours impedes the destructive secondary biochemical reactions in the brain due to HIE, according to the fact sheet.

The cool water circulates through a cap similar to a bathing cap, Hirsch said. A middle layer assures that there is good contact between this cap and the infant, and the final, third cap insulates the infant’s scalp from the surrounding environment.

A large clinical trial showed that the Olympic Cool-Cap System is safe and has prevented or reduced the degree of an infant’s brain injury, which is also supported through findings in animal testing, according to the hospital’s fact sheet.

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital is a top-rated children’s hospital in the United States and is the first hospital in New Jersey to offer the Cool-Cap treatment, according to the press release.

“It is another way in which our hospital can continue to stay on the side of cutting edge technology and offer the kids of New Jersey the best of care, opposed to having all these babies to be sent out of state to New York or Pennsylvania,” Hirsch said.

Hirsch expects that other New Jersey hospitals will follow in the footsteps of Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital and offer the valuable treatment within the next few months to one or two years.

Hirsch said the hospital staff have all been carefully trained and prepared to use the Olympic Cool-Cap System, and currently the hospital offers the revolutionary treatment to any infant who qualifies."

Source: The Daily Targum