Can aquatic therapy decrease seeking behaviors and improve attention for a child with Autism? The answer is YES!
There are 3 key elements that work together to explain why aquatic therapy works to support therapy goals for a child with autism.
- Hydrostatic Pressure
When you are immersed in the water the hydrostatic pressure provides deep pressure to the entire body. This pressure gives complete input to a swimmer’s body and provides a deep squeeze that can feel calming to a sensory-seeking child with Autism. This ‘squeeze’ also releases dopamine, which washes away adrenaline for your child and explains why there is a reduction of seeking behaviors and an improvement in their ability to pay attention. - Viscosity
The viscosity of the water provides resistance to all of the body’s movements. Imagine it is like moving in a bowl full of Jell-O. Think about how, with each movement made in the water, your body receives input about where you are in space due to the thickness of the water. This input helps children with autism to satiate their seeking behaviors and begins to improve their sensory registration. - Surface Tension
When a child jumps in the pool they break the surface tension of the water which feels really good to their central nervous system. Have you ever seen typical kids jumping in the pool over and over again? The skin is the largest organ and when you jump into the water, the feeling of breaking the elastic band of the surface tension simply feels fun and rewarding. In aquatic therapy, you may find that jumping into the pool increases the child’s motivation. This is an easy, simple way to reward the child whilst also being beneficial for their sensory system.
Looking for Aquatic Therapist Training?
We can give you the tools you need to help special needs clients achieve therapy goals and improve their independence in the water.
Learn new treatment and handling techniques, understand how to integrate reflexes and overcome roadblocks to help your pediatric clients achieve their therapy goals. We have 4 in-depth online courses to choose from.
Our online training courses will help you strengthen your aquatic therapy skills and allow you to earn CEU’s. Our on-demand platform makes learning flexible to fit into your schedule.
Dive into Our Specialized Pediatric Aquatic Therapy Program!
The unique program that Swim Angelfish offers is created by an OT/PT team with over 60 years combined experience. We have experienced Recreation, Occupational, and Physical therapists who are specifically trained in pediatric aquatic therapy. We use a fun, innovative and multi-sensory approach using the therapeutic properties of the water to reach your specific therapy goals.
We can help improve self-regulation, motor coordination, strength, balance, endurance, and more. There are several options for therapy sessions depending on your needs, including private, semi-private, and small group sessions.
Ailene is a pediatric Physical Therapist with more than 25 years of experience treating a variety of diagnoses, both in and out of the water. She is NDT (Neuro-Developmental Treatment) trained in pediatrics and is trained in DIR/Floortime. She is currently certified as an Autism Specialist by IBCCES. Ailene brings all of her Physical Therapy expertise into the water, where she helps children of all abilities feel safe, confident, and independent. She combines her passion and skill for working with children with special needs with the therapeutic properties of the water to achieve amazing results. She enjoys sharing her knowledge and experience by educating other Aquatic Professionals so that they can also make a significant impact on the lives of swimmers with special needs.
Cindy is a recreational therapist and an Occupational therapist. After working for ten years as a recreational therapist in a variety of settings, she pursued a Master’s degree in OT. Her career as an OT includes specialty training in sensory integration, reflex repatterning, and aquatics. She is currently certified as an Autism Specialist by IBCCES. As a swimmer and national champion diver, Her love of the water combined with her education and work experience created them an opportunity for Swim Angelfish to become a reality! “Our mission is to create an aquatic community of trained instructors so that together we can decrease the alarming statistic of drowning being the leading cause of death for children with special needs.”
