Tailored swim lessons could save autistic children from drowning
NCT ID NCT07699692
First seen Jul 13, 2026 · Last updated Jul 14, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
Autistic children drown at 160 times the rate of their peers, yet standard swim lessons often fail them. This study tests a new approach that adapts instruction based on a child's sensory profile—whether they seek, avoid, or have mixed reactions to sensory input. Researchers will compare sensory-based lessons to standard lessons in 95 autistic children ages 3 to 15, measuring how quickly they learn to float and kick, and how often sessions end early due to distress.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- sensory-based swim instruction
- What this could lead to
- If effective, this approach could help reduce drowning rates among autistic children by tailoring swim lessons to their sensory needs.
- What could go wrong
- This is a single study with 95 participants, and results may not apply to all autistic children. The intervention is behavioral, so individual responses may vary.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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95 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Oct 2025
- Finished
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May 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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3 to 16 months
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * ASD Exclusion Criteria: * Neurotypical
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Genesis
Louisville, Kentucky, 40299, United States
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