Applying the Human Animal Bond in a Therapeutic Intervention Part 6 The findings of Martin and Farnum’s study reflect previous research, suggesting that animals can encourage the growth of desired communication skills. However, it remains unknown whether the changes were as a result of the dog itself or whether they were due to the combination of all three conditions (live […] Continue Reading
Human – Animal Bond Part 5 In the nineteenth-century, experiments in animal-assisted institutional care were successful. However, despite the success, the onset of scientific medicine largely eliminated animals from hospital settings by the early decades of the twentieth century (Allderidge, 1991). Over the past twenty years, despite the historical scepticism of the medical establishment, AAT is being acknowledged as having […] Continue Reading
An Introduction to Animal Assisted Therapy – Autism Part 3 There are several techniques used in OT to treat autism, where the sensory integration technique is one which is most commonly used by occupational therapists (Pfeiffer et.al 2011). The treatment is designed to provide controlled sensory experiences so that an adaptive motor response is elicited (Baranek, 2002). There is research […] Continue Reading
An Introduction to Animal Assisted Therapy Part 2 Autism was first recognised by Kanner in 1943 and confirmed by Wing and Gould in 1979 (Volkmar & Pauls 2003). According to the Autism Society of America (2012), autism is a “complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and […] Continue Reading
INTRODUCTION A recent discovery by archaeologists found the remains of a man buried with his dog (Walsh 2009). Throughout the ages pets have been a central part of human life in almost every culture, infusing literature, traditions and customs of both modern and ancient peoples alike. Modern day scientific methods provide us with a way to finally document the impact […] Continue Reading