Testing Swim Instruction for Autistic Children

Last updated: September 3, 2024
Sponsor: University of Kansas Medical Center
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

N/A

Condition

Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asd)

Autism

Treatment

Sensory Enhanced Aquatics

Standard Swim Lessons

Clinical Study ID

NCT06216613
FP00000742
  • Ages 5-9
  • All Genders

Study Summary

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.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 5-9 yrs. who have received a clinical diagnosis for autism based on Diagnosticand statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5 criteria

  • A Social Responsiveness Scale-2 (SRS-2) T-score of ≥ 60

  • Sufficient functional ability to understand directions and communicate preferences (verbally or non-verbally)

  • Baseline swim test score ≤22

  • No plans to relocate outside the study area during the intervention period.

  • Physician consent.

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Uncontrolled epilepsy, as seizures increase risk of drowning.

  • Baseline swim test score ≥23

  • Aggressive behaviors that would put instructor safety at risk.

Study Design

Total Participants: 50
Treatment Group(s): 2
Primary Treatment: Sensory Enhanced Aquatics
Phase:
Study Start date:
April 14, 2024
Estimated Completion Date:
August 15, 2025

Study Description

The investigators will conduct a single blind, randomized controlled pilot trial to test the differential effects of an eight-week (16 lesson) Sensory Enhanced Aquatics intervention and standard swim lessons on attainment of swimming and water safety skills of autistic children. Investigators will enroll 50 autistic children aged 5-9 years who will be randomized 1:1 by minimization to either the Sensory Enhanced Aquatics intervention or standard swim lessons to minimize imbalanced group allocation by autism severity and baseline swim skill. Aim 1 will compare the effects of Sensory Enhanced Aquatics to standard swimming lessons on swimming and water safety skills of autistic children with a swim test based on Red Cross water competency guidelines. Aim 2 will assess which participant characteristics (e.g., age, motor ability, autism severity) are associated with the highest post-intervention swim skills and water safety across both groups to inform who benefits most from swim instruction. Child sex and co-occurring motor impairment will be considered as potential covariates. Data will be collected before swim lessons and after 8 weeks of Sensory Enhanced Aquatics or standard lessons. The investigators hypothesize children in both groups will demonstrate improvement in swimming and water safety skills with greater improvements in the Sensory Enhanced Aquatics group; autism severity and motor ability will have the greatest associations with swim skill in both groups. Our exploratory aim will employ post-intervention semi-structured interviews to explore child, parent, and instructor perspectives about instructional methods most effective for developing swimming and water-safety among autistic children. The information obtained from this study will improve our understanding of the best strategies for swim instruction for autistic children and support our long-term goal to make Sensory Enhanced Aquatics scalable on the national level to prevent drowning of autistic children.

Connect with a study center

  • University of Kansas Medical Center

    Kansas City, Kansas 66160
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

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