What Is HBO?--How Can It Help?

HBO is the process of supplying the body with 100% oxygen at increased pressures in a chamber designed specifically for that purpose. Through HBO, the body becomes hyper-oxygenated allowing the bones, plasma and most importantly, the cerebral and spinal fluids to more readily absorb oxygen. As a result, this can provide a jump start to the dormant brain cells and promote healing of tissue around the damaged area.

In the case of Cerebral Palsy, brain cells are deprived of oxygen either before, during or shortly after birth. It is from this period of oxygen deprivation that damage to the brain cells and surrounding tissue occurs. Some of these cells die and cannot be repaired. There are cells around this area of cell death, however, that lay dormant. HBO can reach these dormant cells and revive them. If they are revived in time there is the hope and possibility of the these areas taking over the functions that were lost when the other brain cells died.

HBO has been proven to help the brain injured child if used in conjunction with traditional therapies - i.e. physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Parents of children who have been through HBO continuously state that they notice improvements. These include increased vocalization/speech, better visual function, decreased spasticity, better sleep habits, increased appetite, increased alertness and many other things in different areas of their childrens' lives.