Trial Outcomes & Findings for Testing Swim Instruction for Autistic Children (NCT NCT06216613)
NCT ID: NCT06216613
Last Updated: 2026-08-12
Results Overview
This measure was created and validated specifically for this study. The unabbreviated scale title is Chil Swim Test. The is an 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 scores ranging from minimum 0 to maximum 38. Higher scores reflect greater skills competence.
COMPLETED
NA
51 participants
Test was administered pre and post 8 week intervention. The results show the mean change from pre to post test for the 2 arms (SEA and standard lessons)
2026-08-12
Participant Flow
We distributed information about the study through a university registry and interested participants provided contact information through a secure survey link on the study website April of 2024. The link was closed in the first week of recruitment due to overwhelming response. Screening and enrollment occurred from April 2024 through November 2024.
A biostatistician randomized participants with adaptive 1:1 allocation to one of 2 intervention arms: 1) an 8-week,16 lesson Sensory Enhanced Aquatics swimming intervention or 2) an 8-week, 16 lesson control condition with standard swim lessons. Adaptive randomization was performed using a probabilistic minimization algorithm to reduce imbalance between groups based on autism severity and baseline swimming ability, as these variables were expected to influence the primary outcomes.
Participant milestones
| Measure |
Sensory Enhanced Aquatics
Sensory Enhanced Aquatics is a specialized swimming and water safety program for autistic children.
|
Standard Swim Lessons
Standard swim lessons which are provided to the general public will be used as the comparison group.
|
|---|---|---|
|
Overall Study
STARTED
|
27
|
24
|
|
Overall Study
COMPLETED
|
27
|
21
|
|
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
|
0
|
3
|
Reasons for withdrawal
| Measure |
Sensory Enhanced Aquatics
Sensory Enhanced Aquatics is a specialized swimming and water safety program for autistic children.
|
Standard Swim Lessons
Standard swim lessons which are provided to the general public will be used as the comparison group.
|
|---|---|---|
|
Overall Study
Withdrawal by Subject
|
0
|
2
|
|
Overall Study
Lost to Follow-up
|
0
|
1
|
Baseline Characteristics
Testing Swim Instruction for Autistic Children
Baseline characteristics by cohort
| Measure |
Sensory Enhanced Aquatics
n=27 Participants
Sensory Enhanced Aquatics is a specialized swimming and water safety program for autistic children.
|
Standard Swim Lessons
n=21 Participants
Standard swim lessons which are provided to the general public will be used as the comparison group.
|
Total
n=48 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Age, Customized
Mean Age of Participants
|
5.93 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.44 • n=1 Participants
|
5.95 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.36 • n=1 Participants
|
5.94 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.39 • n=1 Participants
|
|
Sex: Female, Male
Female
|
7 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
6 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
13 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
|
Sex: Female, Male
Male
|
20 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
15 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
35 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
|
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
|
0 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
|
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
|
0 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
1 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
1 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
|
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
|
0 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
|
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
|
1 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
2 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
3 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
|
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
|
21 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
15 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
36 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
|
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
|
5 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
3 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
8 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
|
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
|
0 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
|
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
|
8 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
7 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
15 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
|
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
|
19 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
14 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
33 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
|
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
|
0 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
|
Child Swim Test
|
13.81 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.39 • n=1 Participants
|
14.14 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.19 • n=1 Participants
|
13.96 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.24 • n=1 Participants
|
|
The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2nd Edition
Average
|
1 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
2 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
3 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
|
The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2nd Edition
Below Average
|
6 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
4 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
10 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
|
The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2nd Edition
Well Below Average
|
20 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
15 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
35 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
|
Social Responsiveness Scale-2
Mild Range
|
3 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
2 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
5 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
|
Social Responsiveness Scale-2
Moderate Range
|
12 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
12 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
24 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
|
Social Responsiveness Scale-2
Severe Range
|
12 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
7 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
19 Participants
n=1 Participants
|
PRIMARY outcome
Timeframe: Test was administered pre and post 8 week intervention. The results show the mean change from pre to post test for the 2 arms (SEA and standard lessons)This measure was created and validated specifically for this study. The unabbreviated scale title is Chil Swim Test. The is an 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 scores ranging from minimum 0 to maximum 38. Higher scores reflect greater skills competence.
Outcome measures
| Measure |
Sensory Enhanced Aquatics
n=27 Participants
Sensory Enhanced Aquatics is a specialized swimming and water safety program for autistic children.
|
Standard Swim Lessons
n=21 Participants
Standard swim lessons which are provided to the general public will be used as the comparison group.
|
|---|---|---|
|
Child Swim Test
|
21.44 Units on a scale
Standard Deviation 5.83
|
17.52 Units on a scale
Standard Deviation 8.65
|
Adverse Events
Sensory Enhanced Aquatics
Standard Swim Lessons
Serious adverse events
Adverse event data not reported
Other adverse events
Adverse event data not reported
Additional Information
Lisa Mische Lawson, Professor
University of Kansas - Medical Center
Results disclosure agreements
- Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
- Publication restrictions are in place