By: G. Heuser, MD, PhD, O. Aguilera, MD, S. Heuser, MA, J. Reeves, and C. Rogowski
Introduction
Toxic chemical exposure (solvents, pesticides, mold toxins and others) can significantly affect brain function in children and adults. These effects may last for years after toxic exposure has ceased.
In many of our patients, attention and reaction time become impaired. We have therefore suggested that Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) can be acquired and thus develop de novo in a patient who had perfectly normal attention and reaction time before exposure. To test this assumption, we started evaluating our patients with a Test Of Variables of Attention (T.O.V.A). We found that most of our patients indeed showed definite impairment.
In the past, we have shown that mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (mHBOT) significantly improves brain function as measured by SPECT brain scanning. In this publication we describe T.O.V.A. as an indicator of attention and reaction time and evaluate the effect of mHBOT on those functions.