Effect of Animal Assisted Therapy among Children with Autism

Effect of Animal Assisted Therapy among Children with Autism

Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is still at a very infancy stage of growth as a therapy mode in India. People are slowly getting to know of this and its positive effects for different populations like special kids, people in their old age, and terminally ill patients amongst the many others. Hence the choice to experience this is now gradually increasing in cities that provide AAT. In this present study the aim was to assess the effectiveness of AAT among children with autism. Specifically the focus was to see if AAT does affect the dimensions of communication, social and motor skills in children with autism. To do the same, a case study method was employed in order to derive an in-depth knowledge of the changes and improvements in the child. A multiple technique of data collection was employed wherein data was obtained via semi-structured interviews, observation and medical reports. The data obtained were transcribed and coded and put through a case analysis. The results obtained state that there have been improvements in the dimension of communication and social skills in the autistic children who were a part of this study. Motor skills however have not been significantly enhanced in almost all of them or rather the changes have not been very substantial. In view of the people providing information, the positive shift in these areas could be attributed to AAT but not solely as there could be other therapies and techniques that could have played a role in it. Key Words: Animal Assisted Therapy, Autism, Communication Skills, Social Skills, Motor Skills.

Goswami Lopamudra

Psychology