50 Participants Needed

Swim Instruction for Autism

Age: < 18
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: University of Kansas Medical Center
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the effects of a specialized swimming and water-safety program (Sensory Enhanced Aquatics) and standard swimming lessons for autistic children. The main question\[s\]it aims to answer are:* Do Sensory Enhanced Aquatics and standard swimming lessons improve swimming and water-safety skills of autistic children?* Which participant characteristics are associated with the highest post-intervention swim skills and water safety across both groups?Participants will:* Complete questionnaires, motor, and swim tests before the intervention.* participate in 16, 30-minute Sensory Enhanced Aquatics lessons.* Complete a swim test after the intervention.* Complete an interview. Researchers will compare with participation in standard swim lessons to see if which bests teaches swimming and water-safety to autistic children.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.

Is swim instruction safe for individuals with autism?

Swim instruction for individuals with autism is generally considered safe, but there is a risk of injury and drowning, especially if challenging behaviors occur in the pool. Lifeguard staff found safety procedures helpful and satisfactory in managing these risks.12345

How does the Sensory Enhanced Aquatics treatment for autism differ from other treatments?

Sensory Enhanced Aquatics is unique because it combines swimming lessons with sensory support to improve motor skills, emotional response, and social integration in children with autism, unlike traditional swim lessons that focus solely on swimming skills.14567

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Sensory Enhanced Aquatics, Sensory Supported Swimming, Standard Swim Lessons, Traditional Swim Lessons, Conventional Swim Instruction for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders?

Research shows that aquatic therapy can improve motor skills, emotional responses, and social skills in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). It also enhances water safety skills, which are crucial for preventing drowning, a significant risk for children with ASD.14568

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for autistic children to see if specialized swimming lessons (Sensory Enhanced Aquatics) are more effective than standard swim lessons. Children must be able to complete questionnaires, motor and swim tests before the intervention, participate in 16 sessions, and do a post-intervention swim test.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 5 and 9 years old and have been diagnosed with autism.
A Social Responsiveness Scale-2 (SRS-2) T-score of ≥ 60
I can understand instructions and express my choices.
See 3 more

Exclusion Criteria

Aggressive behaviors that would put instructor safety at risk
My swim test score is 23 or higher.
I do not have uncontrolled seizures.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Pre-Intervention Assessment

Participants complete questionnaires, motor, and swim tests before the intervention

1 week
1 visit (in-person)

Treatment

Participants undergo 16, 30-minute Sensory Enhanced Aquatics lessons or standard swim lessons over 8 weeks

8 weeks
16 visits (in-person)

Post-Intervention Assessment

Participants complete a swim test and an interview after the intervention

1 week
1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

  • Sensory Enhanced Aquatics
  • Standard Swim Lessons
Trial Overview The study compares Sensory Enhanced Aquatics—a special swimming program—with regular swimming lessons. It checks which improves autistic children's swimming skills and safety in water better, considering different characteristics of the participants.
How Is the Trial Designed?
2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Sensory Enhanced AquaticsExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Group II: Standard Swim LessonsActive Control1 Intervention

Sensory Enhanced Aquatics is already approved in United States for the following indications:

🇺🇸
Approved in United States as Sensory Enhanced Aquatics for:

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Kansas Medical Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials
527
Recruited
181,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

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

Effect of Early Swimming on the Behavior and Striatal Transcriptome of the Shank3 Knockout Rat Model of Autism. [2022]
Effectiveness of a Multisystem Aquatic Therapy for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. [2020]
Influence of a Specific Aquatic Program on Social and Gross Motor Skills in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Three Case Reports. [2021]
The Effectiveness of Aquatic Group Therapy for Improving Water Safety and Social Interactions in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Pilot Program. [2018]
A Qualitative Investigation of Swimming Experiences of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders and Their Families. [2022]
A preliminary investigation of the suitability of aquatics for people with severe and profound intellectual disabilities. [2018]
Assessment and treatment of high-risk challenging behavior of adolescents with autism in an aquatic setting. [2021]
Improvements in Swim Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Following a 5-Day Adapted Learn-To-Swim Program (iCan Swim). [2021]
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