Abstract: Objective To observe the clinical effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy at different pressure levels on aphasia
after craniocerebral injury and assess the patient adherence to the therapies. Methods Thirty-one patients with aphasia after
craniocerebral injury receiving 30 sessions of HBO therapy at the pressure level of 0.175 MPa and another 31 patients receiving
0.2 MPa therapy were recruited as the treatment groups 1 and 2, respectively; 31 patients who refused to have HBO therapy
served as the control group. All the patients received routine therapy. The therapeutic effects were assessed using Western
Aphasia Battery (WAB) before and after the therapy. The WAB item and AQ scores, curative effect, and recovery time of
aphasia were compared between the 3 groups. Results The total response rate was significantly lower in the control group as
compared with those in treatment groups 1 and 2 (58.06% vs 83.87% and 87.1%). WAB item scores and AQ scores, curative
effect, and recovery time of aphasia all showed significant differences between the control group and the two treatment groups
(P<0.05), but not between the latter 2 groups (P>0.05). Compared with 0.20 MPa HBO therapy, 0.175 MPa HBO therapy showed
a better patient adherence with a significantly lowered non-adherence rate (by 31.37% ) an increased partial and total
adherence rates (by 13.86% and 17.51%, respectively). Conclusion HBO therapy at the pressure level of 0.175 MPa is more
appropriate for treatment of aphasia after craniocerebral injury to ensure the safety, efficacy and patient compliance.