| For those of us who have had pets in our lives, | | | | understand what is going on around him, including |
| it's no great surprise to learn that interactions with | | | | the needs of others. Moreover, halfway through |
| animals can have therapeutic and healing benefits. | | | | the therapy for the research project, Zachary |
| Many animals soothe, comfort, and calm, just by | | | | completed his first sentence. |
| their quiet presence. And animals are now also | | | | In the case of Zachary, a whole new world of |
| being used as a form of autism therapy. | | | | experiences and understanding was opened up by |
| A New Mexico Highlands University School of | | | | the animal-assisted therapy. Within the mental |
| Social Work graduate student named Jennifer | | | | hospital clinical reports, there have been many |
| Baról lead a research project to study the | | | | reports of autistic children who have built strong |
| benefits and impact of animal-assisted therapies | | | | relationships with individual animals, such as pet |
| on children with autism when used as a treatment | | | | dogs or cats. When autistic children play with |
| tool. | | | | animals, any violent tendencies they may have will |
| The study, entitled "The Effects of | | | | typically disappear. They take on quite maternal |
| Animal-Assisted Therapy on a Child with Autism" | | | | characteristics, taking special care of the animal |
| ran for 15 weeks between July and November of | | | | including feeding, cleaning up after them, and |
| 2006. It was geared toward the goal of | | | | interacting with them. |
| discovering whether or not there is any evidence | | | | The blood pressure of autistic children will also |
| that therapies based on animal-assistance would | | | | usually be lowered when experiencing an animal |
| be able to improve an autistic child's social skills. | | | | treatment. Furthermore, symptoms such as |
| The results of the study were interesting. For | | | | insomnia and headache can be eased with this |
| example, before undergoing the animal-assisted | | | | treatment. |
| therapy with an eight-year-old Australian Cattle | | | | The companionship of animals can help reduce any |
| Dog named Henry, participant Zachary, who was | | | | lonely feelings in autistic children, promoting a base |
| five years old, experienced a dramatic struggle in | | | | of healthy character development within them, |
| order to communicate. Zachary was prone to | | | | including personality traits such as being respectful, |
| throwing tantrums as well as covering his ears | | | | trusting, contributing, committed, self-confident, |
| and eyes when he became frustrated with his | | | | and responsible. Autistic children can also learn |
| lack of ability to be understood. Participation in | | | | decision-making skills, problem-solving skills, and |
| new activities was stressful to him. He couldn't | | | | both language and social skills through interactions |
| understand how to play with others and had | | | | with animals. |
| never before uttered a complete sentence. | | | | This kind of therapy can be beneficial overall, as |
| However, once Zachary met and bonded with | | | | well as in times of greater trial, such as puberty - |
| Henry, he went through a virtual transformation. | | | | when your child will go through many changes and |
| His self-assurance level is much higher and he is | | | | have many questions and will be in need of |
| willing to experience new activities with an obvious | | | | greater stress relief. |
| curiosity. Furthermore, Zachary is better able to | | | | |