Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurological and developmental condition which affects the way that individuals communicate with others and interact with the world around them. In the United States, it is estimated that 1 in 54 children have ASD, the majority of which are diagnosed before the age of two. For the families of these children, the difficulties introduced by ASD can make even daily life challenging.
To support children with ASD, a number of evidence-based therapies can help them develop their abilities and reduce some of the negative symptoms experienced, such as applied behavior analysis. However, in recent years, there has been a rapid increase in the demand for specialist-trained dogs to support autistic children as complementary therapy, including autism service dogs and animal-assisted therapy.
Autism service dogs are trained to support individual children with ASD in their daily lives, helping them manage their disability and promote independence. Whereas in animal-assisted therapy, a trained therapist uses a dog during sessions to help people with ASD develop certain skills and abilities. This article will explore the findings of recent research into the impact these dogs have on autistic children and their families.
Enhancing participation
Children with ASD often face difficulties engaging in daily life or recreational activities, from sensory processing to managing social interactions. For this reason, they often participate in fewer activities than their neurotypical peers. However, recent research found that autism service dogs promoted engagement and participation in autistic children, facilitating independence and improving their quality of life.
The qualitative study used semi-structured interviews to understand the experience of parents and their dogs’ primary handler. The analysis identified a single overarching theme, the multi-factored role of autism service dogs in families. When broken down into subthemes, it highlights the value autism service dogs have for promoting participation, awareness and safety.
Particular areas that parents reported a positive impact included sleep, dressing, feeding, and safety. Autism service dogs were valued not only for their ability to reduce the child’s movement via tethering, but also bridge transitions between activities, like getting ready for school. The child-bond was credited with helping children try novel foods and acted as an age-appropriate safety blanket which also raised awareness about the child’s invisible disability.
Overall, the findings of this study highlight the value of autism service dogs as an alternative form of adaptive equipment which can help increase participation of children with ASD in a wide range of activities. The dog’s presence promotes sensory processing and regulation, as well as facilitating social communications which enables the child to participate in more activities in their daily life.
Supporting family sleep
Sleep disturbances are common in children with ASD, affecting as many as four in five, and often have a knock-on effect on the child’s learning and behavior. The challenges of initiating and maintaining sleep, combined with frequent nocturnal awakenings, can result in poor sleep for the entire family. Therefore, a recent study explored the impact of autism service dogs on the sleep dynamics of the whole family.
The study included 18 youths (aged 5-16 years) whose sleep was measured via a physical activity monitor and sleep diary before, and after, the arrival of their autism service dog. The results revealed no significant improvements in objective sleep measurements, but parent-reported diaries suggest that their children woke fewer times during the night and stayed in bed longer after waking.
The study’s findings suggest that although the children may still be waking up in the night, they are not getting out of bed and fall back to sleep faster, and without disturbing their parents, when an autism service dog is present. In particular, the mothers reported improvements in nearly all sleep parameters, but fathers only showed a significant increase in sleep duration.
Overall, the study suggests that autism service dogs provide autistic children with a sense of safety which allows them to stay in their bed after waking, instead of leaving their room to find comfort and waking their parents.
Improving socio-emotional behavior
Animal-assisted therapy, especially with dogs, is an emerging intervention which has demonstrated social and behavioral benefits for children with ASD. Many autistic children find it easiest to connect with dogs, who are nonverbal, and practice their communication skills. Recent research into canine-assisted therapy for children with ADS revealed improvements in their communication and motor skills.
The study included 16 children (aged 7-13 years) who took part in an 8-week therapy program to improve their functioning in key areas. For half of the children, the sessions included a trained dog who they interacted with through activities such as walking, grooming and playing. The other children participated in traditional therapies, to act as a treatment as usual control group.
Through behavioral observations, the results revealed that children who interacted with the dog showed significant increases in group play, eye contact and motor skills. It was also observed that the dogs had a calming effect on the children, who showed fewer signs of emotional distress. These findings suggest that the nonjudgmental support that dogs provide allows children with ASD to explore behaviors without the pressure of human communication.
Overall, the findings of the study support the use of therapy dogs in children with ASD because their clear nonverbal communication cues are easier for them to interpret. Also, the presence of the dog created the motivation and safe environment in which to engage in a range of behaviors.
Final thoughts
The scientific evidence supporting the benefits of autism service dogs and animal-assisted therapy for children with ASD continues to grow. The recent studies discussed highlight the ways in which the presence of a dog increased children’s participation in daily activities, provided them with a sense of safety, promoted emotional regulation, facilitated communication and improved motor skills. They also improved the wellbeing of the child’s parents, revealing the potential for service dogs to not only transform the lives of children with ASD, but the whole family.
Article by Dr. Carla J Hart: https://linktr.ee/carlajadehart