Clinical trial NCT06484946: Pediatric Aquatic Occupational Therapy for Children With Sensory Processing Challenges
Official title: Pediatric Aquatic Occupational Therapy for Children With Sensory Processing Challenges
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Sensory Processing Disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorder
ADHD
Keywords: aquatic therapy
children
sensory processing challenges
aquatics
water
learn to swim
aquatic occupational therapy
occupational therapy
sensory processing
Lead sponsor: Cleveland State University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2024-07-03
Enrollment: 35
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 4
Maximum age (years): 9
Standard ages: CHILD
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: NA
Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Intervention model description: Every participant receives the intervention. Each child participates in the 8-week aquatic group.
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: Children with sensory processing challenges participated in an 8-week play-based aquatic program addressing goals on behavior, sensory, and participation. It is expected that after the 8-week group, the child's goals will improve demonstrating an effective intervention to address sensory difficulties.

Detailed description: This study examined the effectiveness of an aquatic OT program for children with sensory processing difficulties to develop water readiness skills and improve sensory, behavior, and engagement goals. Six groups of children with deficits in various sensory systems participated in an 8-week aquatic group led by an occupational therapist and occupational therapy students. Each week consisted of a 45-minute aquatic group with a 5 min warmup on land, 30 mins of aquatic activities addressing the sensory system of the week, and 10 mins addressing a social activity with peers. Goals were developed and assessed via the Goal Attainment Scale (GAS). Parents of the participants were given the Sensory Processing Measure (SPM-2) before beginning. As a result of participating in the aquatic OT intervention, percentage of goals achieved will be analyzed. It is expected that this program proves to be beneficial and therefore aquatic OT shows potential for improving sensory processing skills, behavior, and social participation with peers.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Participants must be ages 4-9 years old
* have an identified sensory processing problem as related on the SPM assessment
* able to maintain head, neck, and trunk control
* able to follow 1-2 step directions

Exclusion Criteria:

* Participants younger than 4 years old and older than 9 years old
* requires lift to get in the water
* difficulty with following 1-step directions

Primary outcomes:
measure: Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS)
timeFrame: Scores were tracked weekly for 8 weeks of each program.
measure: Parent Surveys
timeFrame: Parents were given a post-survey at the 8th week.
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Sensory Processing Measure (SPM: Preschool version: SPM-P, newer edition: SPM-2) Assessment Scores
timeFrame: Parents completed SPM on their child before the 8-week group began.
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Seven Hills
country: United States
facility: Seven Hills Recreation Center
state: Ohio
Study officials:
affiliation: Cleveland State University
name: Kristen M Pataki, OTD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: