Diving coach Chan Leung-bo encourages a child with autism to train in a swimming pool in Guangzhou, Guangdong province. LUO BINHAO/NANFANG DAILY

Therapy

Sheila Yip Shu-na, supervising physiotherapist at the Heep Hong Society, a children's educational and rehabilitation organization in Hong Kong, said exercising in water often produces special results, compared with other types of physiotherapy.

Hydrotherapy can help improve autistic children's attention levels and body awareness, and can also boost their social skills through imitation and games played in groups.

Some autistic children have problems with coordination and balance, but those issues can be mitigated by underwater training, and moving their bodies against the resistance of the water can also improve muscle strength, Yip said.

She added that the standard water temperature for training is 32 C to 34 C: "In such temperatures, children can relax and learn to control their bodies and coordinate their limbs."

However, some experts are skeptical about the value of diving therapy for people with autism.

"It could be a method of recreation, but it's not a mainstream therapy," said Zou Xiaobing, director of the Child Development and Behavior Center at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou. "Diving itself cannot intervene in the main problems of autism."

According to Zou, mainstream treatments include applied behavioral analysis and speech therapy, which focus on improving specific behaviors, such as social and communication skills, and reading.

Zou said Hong Kong has the advantage of exposure to advanced training from overseas and also has great experience in terms of community care.

He suggested that instead of relying on nongovernmental efforts, the Chinese mainland should attempt to absorb Hong Kong's long experience and establish long-term official cooperation.

"Using Hong Kong's experience to build up our own community care system could be extremely meaningful," Zou said.