Impact of Aquatic Therapy on the Social Development of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder tend to feel alone and lack social skills like other children their age. Let's help them build some confidence and not be afraid to interact with other people. If you’re a clinician or parent who would like to help a child with Autism improve their social behavior, then keep reading for some information on the benefits of Aquatic therapy
Introduction:
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental and intellectual disability that affects 1 out of 44 children in the US. ASD is characterized by repetitive sensory-motor behaviors and social deficits that impact their daily life. Aquatic Therapy has been studied to be beneficial to improve social interactions and behaviors in children with ASD. This research will help clinicians determine if aquatic therapy can provide a positive effect on social behaviors in children with ASD.
• Subjects improved locomotor and object control
skills
• Water was a social activator by encouraging
individual interaction with therapist
• Female participants had a great increase in
social behaviors and a decrease in the frequency of loneliness behaviors vs
male participants
• The mental age assessment was an important
factor as the female had the mental age of 6.7 yr. old and the male had a 4 yr.
old mental age
In the study, “Effects of Aquatic Therapy for Children withAutism Spectrum Disorder on Social Competence and Quality of Life" results show:
• Three participants shown improvement in parent- child interactions
• The intervention had a greater impact in
non-verbal communication vs
verbal communication
• Clinically significant improvement in social acceptance
• Parents stated improvement in social interaction and communication post-treatment at home and school
In the study,” Effects of water exercise swimming program on
skills and social behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorders" results
show:
• Significantly high scores on academic behavior
• Parents
reported improvement in their children self-confidence and their social and
athletic performances
• Decrease antisocial behavior problems
• Benefit in watching the positive social
interaction of others
Practical applications:
As a clinician performing aquatic therapy you should:
• Utilize the multi-systemic aquatic therapy
(CI-MAT) program: Emotional Adaptation
phase, Swimming Adaptation phase;
Social Integration phase
• Follow a 1:3 therapist-to-children ratio for
social interaction
• Identify the child’s mental age to create groups
• 12-week program, 45 min each session, twice a
week
• Trained instructor
Resources for Audience (live links)
About the Author
Noelia Santana is a senior at Westfield State University majoring in Movement Science with a concentration in Sport Medicine. When she graduates, she will continue her education by attending an accelerated Bachelor of Nursing program to pursue a career as a nurse practitioner. She can be reached at noeliasantana514@gmail.com
References:
Battaglia, G., Agrò, G., Cataldo, P., Palma, A., & Alesi, M. (2019). Influence of a Specific Aquatic Program on Social and Gross Motor Skills in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Three Case Reports. Journal of functional morphology and kinesiology, 4(2), 27. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk4020027
Güeita-Rodríguez, J., Ogonowska-Slodownik, A., Morgulec-Adamowicz, N., Martín[1]Prades, M. L., Cuenca-Zaldívar, J. N., & Palacios-Ceña, D. (2021). Effects of Aquatic Therapy for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder on Social Competence and Quality of Life: A Mixed Methods Study. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(6), 3126. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18063126
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