AUTHOR=Kemp Erika , Nikahd Melica , Howard Mequeil , Darragh Amy , Crasta Jewel E. 

TITLE=Improving water competency among children on the autism spectrum: the AquOTic randomized controlled trial

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pediatrics

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2024.1473328

DOI=10.3389/fped.2024.1473328

ISSN=2296-2360

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Introduction</title><p>There is a critical need for evidence-based and manualized interventions targeting water competency including swim and water safety skills tailored to meet the needs of children on the autism spectrum, a group that is at a high risk of drowning. This study examined the efficacy of AquOTic—a 10-week occupational therapy-based aquatic intervention to improve water competency among children on the autism spectrum.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>A total of 37 children on the autism spectrum (ages 5–9 years) were randomized to a waitlist control group (<italic>n</italic> = 24) or AquOTic intervention group (<italic>n</italic> = 37; 28 males). Blinded assessors administered the standardized Water Orientation Test-Alyn (WOTA) 1 and 2 and a Swim Skills Checklist to all participants pre- and post-AquOTic/control. Repeated measures mixed effects models were used to examine intervention effects.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Average WOTA 1 scores increased significantly after participants received AquOTic (Δ = 5.7; 95% CI: 3.7–7.8; <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001), and average WOTA 2 scores increased significantly after participants received AquOTic (Δ = 9.0; 95% CI: 5.7–12.3; <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001). Average swim skills increased significantly after participants received AquOTic (Δ = 7.6; 95% CI: 5.3, 10.0; <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001).</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>Our results highlight the efficacy of AquOTic to improve water competency among children on the autism spectrum. Further research is needed to examine long-term effects, dosage requirements to achieve water competency, and the impact of aquatic therapy on other health outcomes.
</p></sec><sec><title>Clinical Trials Registration</title><p><uri xlink:href="https://clinicaltrials.gov" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">clinicaltrials.gov</uri>, NCT05524753.</p></sec>