Why Are Autistic Children at a Higher Risk of Drowning?

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Drowning is the leading cause of death for autistic children, according to a study from Columbia University, and people with autism are 160 times more likely to drown than their neurotypical peers, according to the Autism Society of America.

Beckie Geddie, Director of Marketing at the Autism Society of America, explained to Newsweek that, "Autistic people are at higher risk of drowning due to the high incidence of wandering."

Roughly 50 percent of people with autism will wander of have wandered, according to a study from the Kennedy Krieger Institute.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes wandering or elopement as "when someone leaves a safe area or a responsible caregiver." Wandering affects individuals who have disabilities, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or an intellectual disability (ID). In a study from Autism Speaks, the charity explains that "wandering by children with autism is common, dangerous and puts tremendous stress on families."

Geddie explained to Newsweek that, "When a person with Autism has wandered, they may be in a heightened state of arousal, altering their ability to determine what is safe or unsafe." Geddie added that, "This means that the individual could unknowingly put themselves in a dangerous situation, especially when wandering towards water."

Tonya Haynes, a professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis in the College of Nursing, told Newsweek that, "Autism is a developmental disability that tends to result in brain differences."

“Because of those differences in brain functioning and brain development, sensory processing, children and individuals with autism tend to process things differently."

Haynes, who is also the Champion of Change for Autism Speaks, added that, "There may not be that heightened awareness of danger and understanding of safety, for example, and appreciation of the variation in water depth."

Are There Specific Behaviors or Conditions That Contribute to This Increased Risk?
"A diagnosis in itself, of autism, is a risk factor." Haynes told Newsweek. "If the child has a certain interest, if a child is in an environment where there is something of interest that puts the child at increased risk for elopement or wandering, especially near bodies of water or swimming pools," Haynes said.

Rising temperatures cause a rise in risk factors for autistic children.

There is an uptick in wandering tragedies during summer months," Francesca Cascardo of Autism Speaks told Newsweek. "As the weather warms up there is a natural increase in availability of recreational bodies of water like pools or trips to the beach."

Geddie and Haynes both told Newsweek that water can be calming to children with autism. This fact is also emphasized in the report from Columbia University, which quotes Dr Guoha Li as stating, "With impaired communication and social skills, autistic kids tend to seek relief of their heightened anxiety from the serenity of water bodies. Unfortunately, this behavior too often leads to tragedies."

What Preventative Measures Can Be Taken?
Preventive measures outlined to Newsweek by Geddie and Haynes include:

Use layers of protection: pool fences, enclosures, door alarms or signals on water sources.

Persons can wear bracelets or pins that identify their condition.

Utilize a water watcher or go in areas where lifeguards are on duty.

GPS technology can be used for at risk persons.

Use a lifejacket, especially if the person is not competent in water.

Geddie added that people should be able to swim or at least be water competent. She added that the public should also learn CPR.

Geddie noted that risks extend beyond bodies of water, and told Newsweek that, "Additional risks include events with a lot of people, high traffic areas, wooded areas, canals, easily opened or climbable fence[s], retention ponds and more."

Over the last two weeks, three autistic boys, including two in Volusia County, drowned after they briefly went missing from their parents.

While these incidents weren't directly related, their shared circumstances were not purely coincidental.

“I would say, unfortunately, this is not as uncommon as it might seem,” Jennifer Cicia, an autism disorders specialist with the University of Central Florida’s Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, said in an interview.

“Children with autism wandering away from a safe place or a safe person and drowning is, unfortunately, a fairly common occurrence,” Cicia said. “About a third of children with autism have a tendency to wander or elope.”

“Coupled with that tendency, autistic children often do not have the “safety awareness that a neurotypical child has.”

In addition, people on the autism spectrum, especially children, can “exhibit a strong fascination and attraction to water that goes beyond what the rest of us may experience,” according to the Autism Society of Florida.

The ASF is a nonprofit organization engaged in “advocacy; education; information and referrals; support; and community building” assisting people with autism, according to its website.

Why are children with autism drawn to water?
Some people with autism can be “more sensitive or less sensitive than other people to sensory input, such as light, sound, clothing or temperature.”

That’s why, “for individuals with autism, water offers a multisensory experience that fulfills multiple needs at once,” according to the ASF. The water’s reflection, its bubbling and "sparkling" sounds and movements, its sensation on the skin, the smells of salty ocean water or of chlorine in swimming pools can all “be intriguing and stimulating for individuals with autism.”

An autistic person’s potentially heightened sensitivity to everyday sounds, bright lights and even smells can be a challenging experience.

“When submerged underwater, these sensory stimuli are muted, providing a respite from the overwhelming sensory input of the world around us,” according to the USF.

But in turn, when in the water, autistic children might “underreact” to a sensory experience, Cicia said.

“They seek more of (sensory experiences) because their brains process it less than the typical brain would process it,” Cicia said. “That’s where we find that they are seeking out those sensory experiences much more than a neurotypical kid.”

I wonder if maybe the real problem is Doing Dangerous Things Alone.

We are much more instinctively attracted to water than most people.

I don't know about other autistic children, but when I was a kid I loved the water and I really can't remember not knowing how to swim.

But even people who can swim really well sometimes drown, anyway.

I think the reason was because I felt so awkward and like "a fish out of water" when I was on land.