Paper Title
MULTISENSORY AQUATIC INTERVENTION ENHANCES ADAPTIVE RESPONSE IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER: A CONTROLLED EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neuro developmental condition characterized by impairments in social communication, sensory processing, and adaptive functioning, significantly limiting participation in daily life. Enhancing adaptive response is a core objective in occupational therapy, as it underpins functional independence and meaningful engagement. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of structured aquatic therapy as a multisensory intervention for improving adaptive response in children with ASD. A quantitative pretest–posttest control group design was employed involving 30 children aged 5–8 years diagnosed using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale. Participants were allocated into experimental (n=15) and control (n=15) groups. Both groups received conventional occupational therapy for eight weeks, while the experimental group additionally underwent aquatic therapy three times per week. Adaptive response was assessed using the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist. Statistical analysis using Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Mann–Whitney U test revealed significant improvements in both groups; however, the experimental group demonstrated significantly greater improvement (p < 0.05), with a higher reduction in total ATEC scores (mean difference = 39.94) compared to the control group (22.53). The findings provide strong evidence that aquatic therapy, as a multisensory and engagement-driven intervention, significantly enhances adaptive responses in children with ASD. This study supports its integration into evidence-based occupational therapy practice to optimize functional outcomes. Keywords - Autism Spectrum Disorder, Aquatic Therapy, Adaptive Response, Occupational Therapy, Multisensory Intervention