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Testing Swim Instruction for Autistic Children

NCT06216613 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 51

Last updated 2025-09-24

No results posted yet for this 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.

Conditions

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Sensory Enhanced Aquatics

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.

BEHAVIORAL

Standard Swim Lessons

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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University of Kansas Medical Center

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
5 Years
Max Age
9 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2024-04-14
Primary Completion
2025-07-30
Completion
2025-09-04

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Entities

Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT06216613 on ClinicalTrials.gov