ASDNCT07699692
A Sensory-Profile Framework for Differentiated Swim Instruction in Autistic Children
A study testing sensory-based instruction and standard instruction in people with ASD, run by Genesis Indep Research at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Autistic children drown at one-hundred sixty times the rate of their neurotypical peers: a public health crisis that the adapted learning field has only addressed by demonstrating that standard swimming instruction sometimes works for autistic children. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 3 to 16 months
- Conditions the study is for
- ASD
- What is being tested?
- sensory-based instruction and standard instruction
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 95 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 15 Oct 2025to 25 May 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 3 to 16 months
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child
Who may be able to join
- ASD
Who cannot join
- Neurotypical
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: A Sensory-Profile Framework for Differentiated Swim Instruction in Autistic Children: A Randomized Controlled Study With Nonverbal Learner Findings
Autistic children drown at one-hundred sixty times the rate of their neurotypical peers: a public health crisis that the adapted learning field has only addressed by demonstrating that standard swimming instruction sometimes works for autistic children. This study presents a three-profile framework (sensory-seeking/hyposensitive, sensory-avoidant/hypersensitive, variable/mixed) founded in sensory processing literature, based on ~950 lessons to 65 autistic children (ages 3-15) to determine why this disjunction exists, and how swim instructors can fix it.
- Conditions
- ASD
- Being tested
- sensory-based instruction, standard instruction
- Keywords
- autism, asd, swim, instruction, learning, neurotypical, aquatics, sensory, sensory profile
- Medical subject headings
- Autistic Disorder, Child Development Disorders, Pervasive
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
sensory-based instructionBehavioural
This study provided sensory-based instruction to children with ASD to increase aquatics-based learning efficiency
standard instructionBehavioural
standard swim instruction with no neurological accommodations
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| sensory-profile framework | Experimental | Profile 1: Hyposensitive. Students of this profile pursue full-body pressure because their sensory systems under-register input. The instructional challenge for these children is not entry, but instead channeling that drive for stimulation toward skill acquisition. Yilmaz et al. (2004) documented proprioceptive gains from structured, repetitive swimming, which is precisely the kind of input these children seek but need sensory-based instruction to hone.
Profile 2: Hypersensitive. Hypersensitive children are the ones for whom one wrong splash early on might end the lesson. Yet Vonder Hulls et al. (2006) found measurable improvements in touch tolerance following aquatic therapy. Their best mechanism for instruction is controlled and consensual exposure, not forced desensitization. Receives: Behavioral: sensory-based instruction |
| control | Active comparator | Normal non-sensory-based instruction for the autistic children Receives: Behavioral: standard instruction |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
(1) lessons to 5-meter unassisted float/kick;
Measured: 10 lessons for each participant; 10-14 weeks
(2) percentage of sessions ending 10+ minutes early due to apparent dysregulation;
Measured: 10 lessons for each participant; 10-14 weeks
(3) week-4 composite trust score (1-10 score: 10=highest);
Measured: 10 lessons for each participant; 10-14 weeks
(4) technique corrections accepted per session without protest.
Measured: 10 lessons for each participant; 10-14 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted13 Jul 2026
- Study start15 Oct 2025
- Primary completion15 Apr 2026
- Study completion25 May 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for ASDStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Care provider, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 95 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Genesis Indep Research
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07699692
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IRB00014585
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 27 Jun 2026
- Last updated
- 13 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 13 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Sensory-Profile Framework for Differentiated Swim Instruction in Autistic Children: A Randomized Controlled Study With Nonverbal Learner Findings
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07699692
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- IRB00014585
- Conditions
- ASD
- Keywords
- autism, asd, swim, instruction, learning, neurotypical, aquatics, sensory
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 95 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Genesis Indep ResearchUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 15 Oct 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 15 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 25 May 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 13 Jul 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Autistic children drown at one-hundred sixty times the rate of their neurotypical peers: a public health crisis that the adapted learning field has only addressed by demonstrating that standard swimming instruction sometimes works for autistic children. This study presents a three-profile framework (sensory-seeking/hyposensitive, sensory-avoidant/hypersensitive, variable/mixed) founded in sensory processing literature, based on ~950 lessons to 65 autistic children (ages 3-15) to determine why this disjunction exists, and how swim instructors can fix it.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- Double blind (care provider, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| sensory-profile framework | Experimental | Behavioral: sensory-based instructionProfile 1: Hyposensitive. Students of this profile pursue full-body pressure because their sensory systems under-register input. The instructional challenge for these children is not entry, but instead channeling that drive for stimulation toward skill acquisition. Yilmaz et al. (2004) documented proprioceptive gains from structured, repetitive swimming, which is precisely the kind of input these children seek but need sensory-based instruction to hone. Profile 2: Hypersensitive. Hypersensitive children are the ones for whom one wrong splash early on might end the lesson. Yet Vonder Hulls et al. (2006) found measurable improvements in touch tolerance following aquatic therapy. Their best mechanism for instruction is controlled and consensual exposure, not forced desensitization. |
| control | Active comparator | Behavioral: standard instructionNormal non-sensory-based instruction for the autistic children |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 3 to 16 months
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- ASD
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Neurotypical
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| sensory-based instructionThis study provided sensory-based instruction to children with ASD to increase aquatics-based learning efficiency | Behavioural | sensory-profile framework |
| standard instructionstandard swim instruction with no neurological accommodations | Behavioural | control |
Primary outcome
(1) lessons to 5-meter unassisted float/kick;
Time frame: 10 lessons for each participant; 10-14 weeks
(2) percentage of sessions ending 10+ minutes early due to apparent dysregulation;
Time frame: 10 lessons for each participant; 10-14 weeks
(3) week-4 composite trust score (1-10 score: 10=highest);
Time frame: 10 lessons for each participant; 10-14 weeks
(4) technique corrections accepted per session without protest.
Time frame: 10 lessons for each participant; 10-14 weeks
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 13 Jul 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing sensory-based instruction and standard instruction in people with ASD, run by Genesis Indep Research at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
(1) lessons to 5-meter unassisted float/kick; (time frame: 10 lessons for each participant; 10-14 weeks). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 13 Jul 2026.