Problem Identification
A number of studies have underscored the efficacy of hyperbalic oxygen therapy (HBOT) in ameliorating the pathophysiological problems associated with autism. However, most of these studies have been undertaken in the context of the developed world, with only a few focusing attention to developing countries.
Research Objective
Drawing from this gap in the literature, the proposed study aims to evaluate the effect of HBOT in Saudi autistic children. As far as we understand, this will be the first study of this nature to be conducted in Saudi Arabia.
Hypothesis
It will be hypothesized that HBOT is efficacious in addressing the pathophysiological problems presented by Saudi Autistic children; as demonstrated in the literature, some of the most common pathophysiological challenges associated with the disorder include cerebral hypoperfusion, neuroinflammation and gastrointestinal inflammation, immune dysregulation, as well as oxidative stress.
Research Design
The proposed study will employ a quantitative research approach and a pre-test post-test research design to investigate the effect of HBOT in Saudi autistic children. A quantitative research approach will allow the researchers to not only evaluate data objectively but also to use various statistical techniques to establish cause-effect relationships, while the selected research design (pre-test post-test) will enable the researchers to assess the effects of the HBOT intervention in the sampled Saudi autistic children.
Population and Sample
The population for the proposed study will comprise Saudi children with an active condition of autism. The sample for the study, or the number of children expected to participate in the study, will be XX. In line with studies of this nature, a small sample will be used to ensure the researchers are able to keenly follow the whole process of treatment with HBOT.
Sampling Strategy
Sampling for the autistic children will be done purposively with the view to selecting only those participants who demonstrate the following typical characteristics: substantial impairments in social interaction, difficulty with communication, as well as restrictive and repetitive behaviors.
Data Collection Procedure
Data will be collected clinically by competent professionals during the study initialization phase (pre-intervention data) and also during each of the 12 sessions of HBOT exposure (intervention data). A final data collection phase will be undertaken after the 12 sessions (post-intervention data) for comparison with the pre-intervention data with the view to noting the efficacy of HBOT in addressing the pathophysiological problems presented by the sampled participants. Treatment with HBOT will take place at YY. The domains that will be considered for assessment of the efficacy of HBOT in addressing the pathophysiological problems include social development, fine motor and eye-hand harmonization or dexterity, language development, gross motor development, as well as self-help skills. It is felt that the incapacity of the child to perform in these domains is directly related to the pathophysiological problems described in the hypothesis section.
Data Analysis
Inferential statistics (ANOVA) will be used to establish if there are substantial relationships between exposure to HBOT and amelioration of the pathophysiological problems as the child progresses through the treatment sessions. The same statistics will be used to compare pre-intervention data with post-intervention data to note differences that can be linked to the HBOT intervention.
Expected Results
It is expected that HBOT will demonstrate adequate efficacy in addressing some of the pathophysiological problems associated with autism, as improvement will be noted in all the five domains of social development, fine motor and eye-hand harmonization or dexterity, language development, gross motor development, as well as self-help skills. However, administration problems may be experienced bearing in mind that Saudi Arabia is a developing country with no sufficient infrastructure, hence pointing to the difficulties of implementing HBOT in such a context.