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Animal-Assisted Therapy: Boosting Social Communication in Children

Animal-Assisted Therapy: Boosting Social Communication in Children

In the field of speech-language pathology, fostering social communication in children with language impairments (LI) is a pivotal challenge. A recent pilot study titled Using Animal-Assisted Therapy to Facilitate Social Communication: A Pilot Study / L'utilisation de la zoothérapie pour faciliter la communication sociale : une étude préliminaire explores the potential of Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) in promoting these crucial interactions.

The study observed three female children, ages 4-8 years, over twelve weeks. Two out of the three participants demonstrated more sustained social interactions in the presence of a live cat compared to a toy cat or a preferred activity. These findings suggest that AAT can be an effective tool in speech-language therapy to enhance social communication.

Key Findings from the Study

Implementing AAT in Practice

Based on these findings, practitioners can consider incorporating AAT into their therapeutic practices. Here are some steps to get started:

Encouraging Further Research

While this pilot study provides promising results, it also highlights the need for further research to generalize these findings. Future studies could explore the impact of different types of animals and the long-term benefits of AAT on social communication skills.

For practitioners passionate about improving outcomes for children, diving deeper into AAT could be a valuable endeavor. It offers a unique and engaging way to support children with language impairments, helping them build essential social communication skills.

To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Using Animal-Assisted Therapy to Facilitate Social Communication: A Pilot Study / L'utilisation de la zoothérapie pour faciliter la communication sociale : une étude préliminaire.


Citation: Boyer, V. E., & Mundschenk, N. A. (2014). Using Animal-Assisted Therapy to Facilitate Social Communication: A Pilot Study / L'utilisation de la zoothérapie pour faciliter la communication sociale : une étude préliminaire. Canadian Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, 38(1), 26-38.
Marnee Brick, President, TinyEYE Therapy Services

Author's Note: Marnee Brick, TinyEYE President, and her team collaborate to create our blogs. They share their insights and expertise in the field of Speech-Language Pathology, Online Therapy Services and Academic Research.

Connect with Marnee on LinkedIn to stay updated on the latest in Speech-Language Pathology and Online Therapy Services.

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