Testing Swim Instruction for Autistic Children

NCT06216613 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: FP00000742
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 51
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief 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.

Conditions

Autism

Keywords

Autism; Water Safety; Swimming

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Child Swim Test

  Individual performance test of 5 American Red Cross water competency skills, 5 preparatory swim skills and 2 water-safety skills scored on a 4-point scale with total scored ranging from 0-38.

  pre and post 8 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Sensory Enhanced Aquatics

EXPERIMENTAL

Sensory Enhanced Aquatics is a specialized swimming and water safety program for autistic children.

Behavioral: Sensory Enhanced Aquatics

Standard Swim Lessons

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Standard swim lessons which are provided to the general public will be used as the comparison group.

Behavioral: Standard Swim Lessons

Interventions

Sensory Enhanced Aquatics BEHAVIORAL

Sensory Enhanced Aquatics (SEA) utilizes the Sensory Profile to individualize lessons based on children's sensory preferences. The program incorporates evidence-based approaches for autistic children, including: 1) visual supports, 2) sensory supports, 3) communication strategies, 4) behavioral strategies, and 5) modeling to maximize skill acquisition. Lessons will be 1:1 with social opportunities at the beginning and end of each lesson. Like standard swim lessons, skills are taught in progression from water orientation (e.g., blowing bubbles, submerging different body parts) to advanced swimming (e.g., swimming 15 or more yards of different swim strokes). All lessons include instruction of water safety skills. Each skill has been task analyzed by therapists so instruction can be graded according to children's ability. A social story is provided to transition children to lessons. SEA curriculum was reviewed by USA Swimming Foundation and is included as a Swim Lesson Network Provider.

Sensory Enhanced Aquatics

Standard Swim Lessons BEHAVIORAL

Standard swim lessons will adhere to USA Swimming Foundation Swim Network Provider requirements ensuring lessons meet or exceed industry best practices. Lessons have up to a 1:5 instructor to child ratio and will focus on stroke development and water-safety with skills advancing from water-orientation to stroke technique and endurance.

Standard Swim Lessons

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 5 Years - 9 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Age 5-9 yrs. who have received a clinical diagnosis for autism based on Diagnostic and 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.

You may not qualify if:

• Uncontrolled epilepsy, as seizures increase risk of drowning.
• Baseline swim test score ≥23
• Aggressive behaviors that would put instructor safety at risk.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Kansas Medical Center: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Kansas Medical Center

Kansas City, Kansas, 66160, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Autistic Disorder

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Autism Spectrum Disorder; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: The nature of our intervention precludes blinding of the interventionists and participants; however, investigators not involved in the intervention, data analysts and research assistants will be blinded to condition.
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Randomized controlled trial with 50 participants who will be randomized 1:1 to either the Sensory Enhanced Aquatics intervention or control condition with standard swim lessons.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 11, 2024
• First Posted: January 22, 2024
• Study Start: April 14, 2024
• Primary Completion: July 30, 2025
• Study Completion: September 4, 2025
• Last Updated: September 24, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, ICF, ANALYTIC CODE
• Time Frame: The data will be made available no later than the time of an associated publication or at the end of the performance period, whichever comes first. We will also work closely with our Data and Safety Monitoring Board to identify any applicable embargo periods that may be necessary to maintain the integrity of the study and will implement these in an appropriate manner that is consistent with NIH and local institutional policies. The data provided to the repository will be available indefinitely while that repository continues to exist.
• Access Criteria: we will upload our data to the National Database for Autism Research (NDAR)

Locations

US (1)