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A MyAutismTeam Member asked a question 💭
Highland, CA

I recently have read this study about giving children with autism hot baths for thirty mins. reduces the autism. I did do a lil study of my own and at first the bath was warm normal behavior. not much babble . then I did increase the water temp. a bit warmer , some babbling began. again increased temp much more sounds and behavior did change. my husband said it could be a cousidence . but who knows? but I am concerned about the change of temp. this is why I did it slowy.. oh the study also said… read more

December 15, 2013
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Answer Summary

Members discussed a study exploring whether hot baths at 102 degrees could temporarily reduce autism symptoms, with one parent sharing that... Read more

Members discussed a study exploring whether hot baths at 102 degrees could temporarily reduce autism symptoms, with one parent sharing that their own child showed noticeable improvements in communication and reduced repetitive behaviors during fever episodes, though they had not yet tried the hot bath approach themselves. Several members shared details about the double-blind crossover study methodology, which compared hot baths to slightly cooler water as a placebo, while others raised important questions about the reliability of parent-reported outcomes and whether the calming effect might simply be related to many autistic children's general affinity for water regardless of temperature. A recurring theme was cautious optimism balanced with scientific scrutiny, as members emphasized the need to wait for peer-reviewed publication and further research into the underlying mechanisms before drawing firm conclusions about this potential intervention.

A MyAutismTeam Member

I am not sure if this was taken into consideration but many ASD children respond positively to water and enjoy being in it or playing in it. I have never heard anyone say anything about the temp of the water at all. I know my daughter is LFA and loves the water, it actually calms her down and she loves playing in it. Temperature does not matter to her at all, just being in the water itself is enough.

December 18, 2013
A MyAutismTeam Member

We do see this with our son - there has been couple of studies on the fever effect with this study being the latest one (confirming prior study). Had posted as earlier question - there is a recorded presentation by Dr Hollander who did this hot bath study (last link in my question) - not published yet.

http://www.myautismteam.com/questions/51f03b486...

There are a lot of hypothesis on what is exactly going on but without any testing, it is just a guess. I don't believe it is epigenetic changes - more likely immune related changes but that is just a guess as well. However, what is clear that this effect does exist for a subset of kids. We haven't tried hot bath as our son doesn't like such a high water temp, but may look into a FIR sauna.

December 16, 2013
A MyAutismTeam Member

The hot bath experiment was inspired by the observation that in up to a third of cases, the symptoms of autism are eased when a child has a fever.

To find out more, the U.S. researchers asked ten autistic children in whom this had been seen to sit in baths of two different temperatures and asked their parents and a doctor to assess their behaviour.

The hot water temporarily made children more sociable and less prone to repeating the same action over and over again
The hot water temporarily made children more sociable and less prone to repeating the same action over and over again

Sitting in water of 39C (102F) for half an hour produced a noticeable improvement in the ability to communicate and a reduction in repetitive behaviour.

However, a bath that was just two or three degrees cooler had no effect, the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology’s annual conference heard.

The researchers, from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, are now studying how a higher temperature helps.

One possibility is that it switches on genes that dampen down an overactive immune system

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-25227...
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December 15, 2013
A MyAutismTeam Member

My first thought was the same as MyZett's.
Can you post a link to the article?

December 15, 2013
A MyAutismTeam Member

I did also read the updated version of this study I well post link shortly
\

December 20, 2013

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