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Effects of Animal-assisted interventions on the development of children with Down syndrome and

children with autistic behavior

Heerlen, December 6th, 2013Richard Griffioen, asp. Promovendus

Graduate School Open University

Promotor: Prof. Dr. Marie-Jose Enders-SlegersProfessor in Anthrozoology

Open Universiteit Nederland

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Theoretical Framework

Developmental psychology (and behavioral psychology).

Daniel N. Stern, The interpersonal world of the infant.

Self Psychology, Attachment theory

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Hypothesis

The interaction with animals will have a positive supportive effect on

the development of social interactions and language development

in children with special needs.

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Dolphin-assisted interventions

The effect of Dolphin-assisted therapy on

the cognitive and social development of

children with Down syndrome

Research completed

Paper submitted, reviewed and re-submitted (July 2013); Anthrozoös, A multidisciplinary journal of the interactions of people and animals

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Dolphin-assisted interventions

Research Characteristics

•The effect on the cognitive and social

development

•Children with Down Syndrome

•N=44

•Pre-post and follow-up measurement

•Cross-over design, 2 control groups

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Dolphin-assisted interventions

Number of participants

in various groups at various intervals

* total of 43 instead of 44 at T3 as one questionnaire was not returned.

**At T5 several questionnaires have not been returned

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Dolphin-assisted interventions

Procedures (1)

•Interventions at Dolphinarium Harderwijk, the

Netherlands

•Open water Lagoon

•17 bottlenose dolphins

•Well-being of the dolphins is monitored

•No swim program!!

•6 week program, once a week

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Dolphin-assisted interventions

Procedures (2)

•DAT group

Behavioral approach

Teaching different tasks

Exercise speech and language tasks

•Control group (swimming pool)

Same exercises, positive rewarded (play with

radio-controlled ship)

•Control group (waiting list)

No interventions

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Dolphin-assisted interventions

MESSIER Questionnaire

•Verbalization

•Impulsiveness

•Contact

•Understanding of rules

•Recognition

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Dolphin-assisted interventions

Results / conclusions (repeated measures ANOVA)

Control group (T1-T2):

• no signifcant improvement for any of the

variables

DAT group (T3-T4), significant improvement of:

• verbalization (f=3,755; p=0,036)

• recognition (f=4,426; p=0,026)

Follow-up (T5):

• verbalization continued to increase

• recognition slightly

decreased

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Pending research

Dolphin-assisted therapy and Down syndrome (qualitative and quantitative analysis using video registration).

Data collection completed

The qualitative analysis is to explain to what is seen, for example taking initiative or facial expressions of the children.

Questions to answer are: what does it mean if the child is, for example, making eye contact, do you see relaxation and how is this exposed.

Factors to analyze: self-confidence, self-esteem, increasing concentration, increasing initiative of the child, decreasing anxiety.

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Proposed research

Equine-assisted interventions

The effect of equine-assisted therapy on the

behaviour (social interaction) and language

development of children with autism and

children with Down syndrome.

Design:

•1 hour of structured interaction, 12 weeks, once a week.

•interaction to be standardized to make comparison between results possible.

•study the behavior of horses and children during their interaction. (Using interact software.)

•Observations, for example: making eye contact and verbal and non-verbal interaction, having fun, laughing etc.

Children Behaviour Check List, Teacher Report Form

Video recording

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Proposed research

Dog-assisted interventions

The effect of dog-assisted therapy on the

oxytocin and cortisol levels of children whith

autism and children with Down syndrome.

Design:

30 minutes of structured interaction, 12 weeks, once a week.

interaction to be standardized to make comparison between results possible. (petting, execution of tasks, etc.)

study the behavior of dogs and children during their interaction. (Using interact software.)

Observations, for example: who is taking initiative and how, making eye contact and verbal and non-verbal interaction, having fun, laughing etc.

The interaction will be with the help of trained (service) dogs.

Pre, during and post salivary samples

CBCL questionnaire

Video recording

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Thank you for listening