Pet and animal therapy has been shown to yield great benefits for people of all abilities and disabilities – encouraging social interaction, comfort, play, and joy. When it comes to autism animal-assisted therapy, the research is quite new and limited, but much of the evidence found so far suggests incredible positive effects for people on the autism spectrum.
Animal therapy can also help individuals with autism focus their attention more effectively. One study demonstrates that children with autism looked at dogs’ faces longer than humans’ faces. Getting a service animal for your child with autism can help them focus longer and help develop their focusing skills. In addition, animal interaction can also increase physical fitness, strength, and coordination.
Animal therapy can also help a person focus their attention. One study demonstrates that children with autism looked at dogs’ faces longer than humans’ faces. Animal interaction can also increase physical fitness, strength, and coordination.
Service animals are professionally trained and certified to meet their owners’ unique needs. Legally allowed in any public place, a service animal provides a secure companion for a person with autism as they travel, visit the dentist or doctor, attend school activities, or other stressful situations. They can be trained to curb meltdowns, aggression, or self-harm, and can even provide protection for people with ASD who might wander off into danger. These services animals are generally dogs, but not in all cases.
Therapy animals offer comfort through medical procedures and physical or occupational therapy. They also promote emotional and intellectual openness and communication in therapy sessions. Typically used in healthcare facilities, such as hospitals, therapy animals are not legally required access to all public places.
Family pets provide unconditional, affectionate companionship for a person with autism. Caring for a pet supports practical skills, responsibility, and empathy. Walking a dog or other pet also provides physical exercise.
Some parents have been surprised by how difficult it can be to juggle the needs of children with autism and dogs at the same time – even when the dogs are highly trained. An adult service dog owner must be capable of directing and guiding their dog, which is not possible for every person on the spectrum.
Assistance Dogs International and Autism Service Dogs of America assist in training, education, and adoption of therapy or service animals for autism.
There are endless types and severities of issues associated with individual ASDs. It’s not clear yet which people with autism will have the best results from animal therapy. Larger and more defined studies are still needed. Dr. Melissa Nishawala, medical director of the Autism Spectrum Disorders Clinical and Research Program says, “That means making sure the children involved have been formally diagnosed with a form of autism, defining what the ‘therapy’ is, and being clear about what outcomes the study is assessing.”
For additional ways to increase the well-being of adults with autism, learn more about our center’s resources.
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