Category: Therapy

Categories
Therapy

Do children on the autistic spectrum benefit from assistance dogs?

Autism assistance dogs
Autism assistance dogs

How do parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) perceive the value of assistance dogs?

It’s a new area of research for Louise Burgoyne at the University College Cork in Ireland.

Louise holds a PhD in Epidemiology and Public Health, a Masters in Marketing and a Bachelor of Art in Applied Psychology.

She also has a gorgeous German Shepherd, named Kyla, who she participates with in search and rescue, as an Irish Search Dog member.

In this episode, we hear from Louise about her research investigating the effects of assistance dogs to children with autism spectrum disorder and their families.

Podcast

Publications

Autism assistance dogs - Louise Burgoyne
Louise Burgoyne

Burgoyne, L., Dowling, L., Fitzgerald, A., Connolly, M., Browne, J. P., & Perry, I. J. (2014). Parents’ perspectives on the value of assistance dogs for children with autism spectrum disorder: a cross-sectional study. BMJ open, 4(6): e004786. [Open Access]

Berry, A., Borgi, M., Francia, N., Alleva, E., & Cirulli, F. (2013). Use of assistance and therapy dogs for children with autism spectrum disorders: A critical review of the current evidence. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 19(2), 73-80.

O’Haire, M. E. (2013). Animal-assisted intervention for autism spectrum disorder: A systematic literature review. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 43(7), 1606-1622.

Davis, B. W., Nattrass, K., O’Brien, S., Patronek, G., & MacCollin, M. (2004). Assistance dog placement in the pediatric population: Benefits, risks, and recommendations for future application. Anthrozoos: A Multidisciplinary Journal of The Interactions of People & Animals, 17(2), 130-145.

Links

Louise Burgoyne: University College Cork Profile

Louise’s other publications on Research Gate

Video – What is autism (a quick refresher)

What is autism?

Header image via Flickr/Paolo Manalac

Categories
Psychology Therapy

Serious fun: animal assisted play therapy

Animal assisted play therapy
Animal assisted play therapy

Most of us know that playing with dogs and horses can be fun, but have you ever considered how important animal-assisted play might be in psychological therapy for people?

Dr. Risë VanFleet is the Founder of the Family Enhancement & Play Therapy Center in the United States, an organisation specialising in the training and supervision of child, family, and play therapy professionals, as well as the provision of mental health services for children and families.

She is a psychologist and author of several books, who focuses on strengthening family relationships through play, and has specialties in chronic medical illness, disaster mental health, child and family trauma and attachment interventions using play therapy, filial therapy, and the training and involvement of animals in assisted play therapy.

It’s this area of using animals, particularly dogs and horses, in play as a mode of therapy for people that we learn about with Risë in this episode.

Podcast

Publications

Dr. Risë VanFleet - Animal assisted play therapy
Dr. Risë VanFleet

VanFleet, R. (2008) Play Therapy with Kids and Canines: Benefits for Children’s Developmental and Psychosocial Health. Professional Resource Press (Book)

VanFleet, R. & Faa-Thompson, T. (2012) The power of play, multiplied. Play Therapy, 70, 7-10. (PDF)

VanFleet, R., & Faa-Thompson, T. (2010). The case for using animal-assisted play therapy. British Journal of Play Therapy, 6, 4-18. (PDF)

Thompson, M. J. (2009). Animal-assisted play therapy: Canines as co-therapists. Compelling counseling interventions: VISTAS, 199-209. (PDF)

Odendaal, J. (2000). Animal-assisted therapy—magic or medicine? Journal of psychosomatic research, 49(4), 275-280.

Links

Risë VanFleet’s website: www.risevanfleet.com

Playful Pooch animal-assisted therapy website

The Clothier Animal Response Assessment Tool (CARAT)

Header image: Flickr/Matteo Paciotti

Categories
Therapy

Amazing tails: Reading with dogs

Reading with dogs
Reading with dogs

Dr Holly Lane is an Associate Professor in the School of Special Education, School Psychology and Early Childhood Studies at the University of Florida’s College of Education.

Her research focuses on literacy intervention and prevention of reading difficulties through effective early literacy instruction and teacher education.

Holly’s first observations as a classroom teacher with her own dog, Floyd, led her to notice how dogs helped to motivate students.

Fast forward to now, and she’s getting the opportunity to research the growing field of canine-assisted reading programs, with promising future directions.

Listen in and find out what she has to say about reading with dogs!

Podcast

Links

Dr. Holly Lane - Reading with dogs
Dr. Holly Lane

Holly Lane: University of Florida Profile

Lane, H. B., & Zavada, S. D. (2013). When Reading Gets Ruff: Canine‐Assisted Reading Programs.
The Reading Teacher, 67(2): 87-95.

Publications

Friesen, L. (2010). Potential for the role of school-based animal-assisted literacy mentoring programs. Language and Literacy, 12(1): 21-37.

Smith, C. S. (2009). An Analysis and Evaluation of Sit Stay Read: Is the Program Effective in Improving Student Engagement and Reading Outcomes?. EdD Dissertation. National Louis University.

Going to the Dogs: Can a canine help your child learn to read? Psychology Today

Photo: Steven Pam | Smartshots Photography

Categories
Therapy

Helping children with autism: the unlikely heroes

Helping children with autism
Helping children with autism

Maggie O’Haire returns to Human Animal Science to discuss her innovative research (based at the University of Queensland) helping children with autism with assistance from some unassuming guinea pigs.

Maggie is currently completing her PhD and is Project Director for an NICHD-WALTHAM funded grant to study Animal-Assisted Intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder and their peers.

The results are amazing!

Find out as we talk to Maggie about helping children with autism.

Podcast

Links

Human Animal Interaction Research

Publications

O’Haire, M. E., McKenzie, S. J., Beck, A. M., & Slaughter, V. (2013). Social skills increase in children with autism in the presence of animals compared to toys. PLoS ONE, 8(2), e57010.

O’Haire, M. E. (2012). Animal-assisted intervention for autism spectrum disorder: A systematic literature review. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s10803-012-1707-5.

O’Haire, M. E., Rand J. S., McKenzie, S. J., & Slaughter, V. (2010). Guinea pigs as classroom pets: Helping children with autism and their peers. Society for Companion Animal Studies Journal, XXII (4), 11-13.