Sensory Supported Swimming for Autism Spectrum Disorder

(SSS Trial)

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Kansas Medical Center

Disqualifiers: Sensory impairments, Aggressive behaviors, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 8

Duration: 8 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores a new swimming program designed specifically for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The goal is to make swimming more accessible and safe while increasing physical activity tailored to each child's sensory needs. The trial also trains swim instructors to better support children with ASD. Children with an autism diagnosis, who do not have sensory impairments like blindness or deafness, and who can safely participate are good candidates for this trial. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity for children to benefit from a program specifically tailored to their needs.

Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?

The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that Sensory Supported Swimming is safe for children with ASD?

Research has shown that swimming programs like Sensory Supported Swimming are generally safe and well-received by children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A recent study found that these programs can greatly improve motor skills and social interactions, benefiting children with autism. Another study emphasized the importance of teaching basic water safety and swimming skills to help keep children with ASD safe in and around water.

Evidence also indicates that children with ASD can improve their water safety skills through aquatic therapy, which is crucial for reducing the risk of drowning. Overall, Sensory Supported Swimming aims to enhance these vital skills in a safe and supportive setting. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Sensory Supported Swimming is unique because it combines physical activity with sensory integration, which is especially beneficial for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Traditional treatments for ASD often focus on behavioral therapies or medications to address symptoms, but Sensory Supported Swimming offers a holistic approach by engaging multiple senses through water-based activities. This method not only helps improve motor skills and coordination but also provides sensory input that can be calming and promote better focus and social interaction. Researchers are excited about this approach because it has the potential to enhance the well-being of individuals with ASD in a more natural and enjoyable setting.

What evidence suggests that Sensory Supported Swimming is effective for children with ASD?

Research has shown that swimming programs can benefit children with autism. One study found that swim training improved both behavior and swimming skills in these children. Another study found that water activities greatly enhanced their movement and social skills. Specifically, children who participated in a 10-week water exercise program demonstrated better swimming skills and social interactions. Additionally, a sensory-focused swim program improved swimming skills and physical activity levels for children with autism. These findings suggest that programs like Sensory Supported Swimming, which participants in this trial will receive, can increase physical activity and water safety for children with autism. ^{5 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Lisa Mische Lawson, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Kansas Medical Center

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis. It aims to provide a low-cost recreational swim program tailored to their sensory needs. Children with sensory impairments like blindness or deafness, or those who show aggressive behaviors that could be unsafe in the program, may not participate.

Inclusion Criteria

Order of response

Autism diagnosis (any autism spectrum diagnosis)

Exclusion Criteria

Participants that display aggressive or harmful behaviors may be excluded for safety purposes (based on the discretion of the program directors)

My child has a sensory impairment such as blindness or deafness.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive Sensory Supported Swimming lessons, which include eight 30-minute sessions tailored to individual sensory needs

8 weeks

8 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in swimming and water safety skills, as well as physical activity and safety around water

16 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Sensory Supported Swimming

Trial Overview The Sensory Supported Swimming program is being tested for its effectiveness in increasing physical activity, safety around water, and the ability of recreation providers and swim instructors to support children with ASD.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: SSS Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Sensory Supported Swimming-eight, 30 minute lessons

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Kansas Medical Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

527

Recruited

181,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A 10-month multisystem aquatic therapy program significantly improved functional adaptation, emotional response, and social integration in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) compared to a control group.

The therapy not only enhanced behavioral and emotional skills but also effectively taught swimming skills, indicating its broad benefits beyond just swimming training.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of a Multisystem Aquatic Therapy for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Caputo, G., Ippolito, G., Mazzotta, M., et al.[2020]

The iCan Swim program significantly improved swim skills in children and teenagers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with participants showing a notable increase in swim level after a 5-day course (n = 86).

Children with ASD who also had co-occurring ADHD demonstrated even greater improvements in swim skills, suggesting that ADHD may positively influence the effectiveness of swim training in this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Improvements in Swim Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Following a 5-Day Adapted Learn-To-Swim Program (iCan Swim). Munn, EE., Ruby, L., Pangelinan, MM.[2021]

Early swimming intervention significantly improved social and stereotyped behaviors in a rat model of autism (Shank3 knockout), suggesting a potential noninvasive treatment approach for autism spectrum disorder.

Transcriptomic analysis revealed that swimming altered 534 genes related to synaptic structure and function in the striatum, indicating that the mechanism of improvement may involve enhancing synaptic development.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of Early Swimming on the Behavior and Striatal Transcriptome of the Shank3 Knockout Rat Model of Autism. Meng, Y., Xu, D., Zhang, W., et al.[2022]

An aquatic therapy program significantly improved water safety skills in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), with a notable p-value of 0.0002 after just 8 hours of intervention, highlighting its potential for drowning prevention.

Despite the improvements in water safety skills, the program did not show any significant effect on enhancing social skills among the participants, as indicated by a p-value of 0.6409.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Effectiveness of Aquatic Group Therapy for Improving Water Safety and Social Interactions in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Pilot Program. Alaniz, ML., Rosenberg, SS., Beard, NR., et al.[2018]

The study demonstrated that using differential reinforcement without extinction effectively reduced challenging behaviors and transition latencies for two participants with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) when moving from the pool, with effects lasting up to 2 months after treatment.

Lifeguard staff found the intervention highly acceptable and reported significant improvements in the participants' behavior, highlighting the intervention's practical benefits in aquatic settings for individuals with ASD.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Assessment and treatment of high-risk challenging behavior of adolescents with autism in an aquatic setting. Dowdy, A., Tincani, M.[2021]

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families reported positive swimming experiences and skill acquisition when instructional methods were tailored to the child's specific needs, highlighting the importance of individualized approaches.

As children's swimming skills improved, parents felt more confident about their safety in the water, suggesting that effective swimming instruction can enhance both competence and perceived safety for children with ASD.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Qualitative Investigation of Swimming Experiences of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders and Their Families. Mische Lawson, L., D'Adamo, J., Campbell, K., et al.[2022]

Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI) therapy shows strong evidence of improving individualized functioning and participation goals for children with autism, based on a systematic review of five studies including randomized controlled trials.

There is moderate evidence that ASI can lead to improvements in autistic behaviors and reduce the need for caregiver assistance in self-care activities, although evidence for enhancements in play, sensory-motor, and language skills is still emerging.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy of Occupational Therapy Using Ayres Sensory Integration&#174;: A Systematic Review. Schaaf, RC., Dumont, RL., Arbesman, M., et al.[2022]

The multi-systemic aquatic therapy (CI-MAT) program was effective in improving gross motor skills and social behaviors in three adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) over a 12-week period.

Participants showed significant gains in locomotor and object control skills, as well as improvements in social interactions, particularly in sensitivity to others and eye contact.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Influence of a Specific Aquatic Program on Social and Gross Motor Skills in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Three Case Reports. Battaglia, G., Agrò, G., Cataldo, P., et al.[2021]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9138228/

Effects of Aquatic Training in Children with Autism ... Our results showed the effectiveness of both training programs in enhancing several functional behaviors as well as swimming skills of children ...

2. research.aota.org research.aota.org/ajot/article/78/6/7806205050/25973/Water-Competency-and-Sensory-Processing-Among

Water Competency and Sensory Processing Among Children ... This study examined water competency, including swim safety skills, among children on the autism spectrum.

3. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2024.1473328/full

Improving water competency among children on the autism ... A recent meta-analysis showed that aquatic programs significantly improved motor and social skills among children on the autism spectrum (14).

4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1750946710001248

The efficacy of an aquatic program on physical fitness and ... Children with ASD in this study (Pan, 2010) showed improved aquatic skills and social behaviors after 10-week water exercise swimming program. In addition, the ...

5. researchgate.net researchgate.net/profile/Lisa-Mische-Lawson-2/publication/272148783_Effects_of_a_swim_program_for_children_with_autism_spectrum_disorder_on_skills_interest_and_participation_in_swimming/links/5ad0e966aca272fdaf770270/Effects-of-a-swim-program-for-children-with-autism-spectrum-disorder-on-skills-interest-and-participation-in-swimming.pdf

Effects of a swim program for children with autism spectrum ... The purpose of this study was to determine if a sensory-based, learn-to-swim program improved swim skills and increased physical activity of children with ...

6. scholarworks.bgsu.edu scholarworks.bgsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1586&context=ijare

Water Orientation Skills and Basic Safety and Swimming ... These outcomes support the importance and effectiveness of teaching basic water safety and swimming skills to individuals with ASD to increase ...

7. curative.org curative.org/Curative-Files/Media/2019_04_Study_EffectivenessofAquaticGroupTherapyresearcharticle.pdf

The Effectiveness of Aquatic Group Therapy for Improving ... We provide preliminary evidence that children with ASD can improve water safety skills (p = 0.0002), which are important for drowning pre-.

8. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02747459

Sensory Supported Swimming for Children With ASD ... The Sensory Supported Swim Program will increase physical activity of children with ASD. · The Sensory Supported Swim Program will increase safety of children ...

9. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11491375/

Improving water competency among children on the autism ... A recent meta-analysis showed that aquatic programs significantly improved motor and social skills among children on the autism spectrum (14).