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Dolphin-Assisted Therapy (DAT)
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Dolphin-Assisted Therapy (DAT)
DAT is a form of treatment that involves a swim-with dolphin encounter used for
individuals suffering from physical or mental illnesses. What would come to be identified as
dolphin-assisted therapy is originally traced back to the work of John Lilly in the 1950s.
However, the first line of research investigating the therapeutical effects of dolphins on children
with neurological disorders was conducted in 1971 by Betsy Smith, a Florida International
University educational anthropologist. By 1978, Dr. Nathanson was already working on
improving the therapy at Dolphin Human Therapy Centre in Florida, USA. Upon noticing the
positive interaction between dolphins and children with Down's syndrome, Nathanson got
motivated to open up more centers across the country.
Different therapists have made various claims on how dolphin-assisted therapy benefits
those subjected to it. For instance, Bin MdYusof & Chia (2012) alleged that this treatment led to
a significant decline in obsessive-compulsive disorders and a considerable improvement in
speech and social interaction in children who have autism. On the other hand, Nathanson's 14
days Dolphin Human Therapy program revealed how this intervention considerably improves
speech or language, overall movement, and dexterity among disabled children, unlike the more
typical speech or physiotherapy programs that last for over six months. Defenders of this form of
therapy also asserted that it is suitable for treating patients diagnosed with psychological
impairments and other conditions including Angelman syndrome, epilepsy, autism spectrum
disorder, Down syndrome, cancer, dyslexia, Rett syndrome, GM2 gangliosidosis, Tourette's and
HIV/AIDS. Other alleged advantages of dolphin-assisted therapy include raised levels of
physiological activity, improved memory and performance, reduced morbidity, and an increase
in an individual's wellness by lowering their stress levels with a much-boosted immunity system.
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In the end, Nathanson and his colleagues claimed that this form of animal-assisted intervention
increases levels of concentration among the patients which make them more motivated to
improve their language skills rapidly in a more cost-effective manner than other common types
of therapies and the treatment effects are retained over a more extended period.
The ultrasound produced by dolphins through the echolocation clicks is alleged to have
an automatic effect on the human endocrine system and sensorium, enhancing the healing
process by altering the patient's cellular structure and tissues of the body. Other proponents
suggest that dolphins are responsive to disabled individuals and always find it necessary to help
them by paying close attention to them through humorous signs of care (Kreivinienė & Perttula,
2014). This has been referred to as a secret language by a section of DAT psychotherapists
(Dilts, Trompisch & Bergquist, 2011). It has as well been conceived that through this
intervention, a human encounter with these animals brings about extreme emotions, feelings of
emotional reconnection, and happiness, which, as a result, improves the participant's wellbeing.
Dolphins are identified for their ability to trigger happiness among people via their unending
cheer and lighthearted nature. It is the extra joy attention that humans receive from these animals
that improve their quality of life, which consequently increases their desire to learn.
Other than the theories based on ultrasounds, Griffioen and Enders-Slegers (2014) based
their dolphin-assisted therapy on the assumption that by getting to touch and interact with
dolphins, children paying attention to stimuli in their immediate surrounding tend to increase
significantly. The hypothesis of Griffioen and Enders-Slegers (2014) about how the low levels of
concentration affect those suffering from mental impairments and other illnesses is less likely to
motivate further research. Notably, patients' inability to pay full attention to the essential details
of the stimuli around their immediate environment instead of their information processing
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capability determines the effectiveness of the therapy (Fiksdal et al., 2012). Thus, a new theory
to the effect that animals increase human's ability to pay attention emerges, which results in
improved mental activities such as refined, motor function, learning processes, language, speech,
and memory development.
Dilts, Trompisch & Bergquist (2011) pointed out the empirically unsupported claims that
facilities use to support dolphin-assisted therapy. The three authors stated that there had been no
further publishments on peer-reviewed works regarding this topic from the time of its
introduction to date. In their review of this form of treatment, Fiksdal et al. (2012) postulate that
along with guardians of the young population suffering from autism should be informed about
the lack of empirical validation to support the animal-assisted therapy. The findings collate with
those of Kreivinienė and Perttula (2014). Further studies that have been delayed as backing the
same have major procedural faults making their findings unconvincing and pointless.
The voices that have emerged from the mainstream media in the recent have demanded
assistance in finding and deciding on efficient treatment methods to bring down the number of
parents seeking the modern, up-to-date developments in intervention and instead make their
decisions based on supporting evidence. Regrettably, establishments that people have depended
on for regulation in the past have faced a difficult time trying to avoid unions with vested
interests. Alternative modes of therapies have emerged in the process, the majority with
associated risks lacking experiential justification and insufficient record keeping. However, a
good number of these alternative means have the backup of the big corporations cheering on
family units of disabled children.
References
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Dilts, R., Trompisch, N., & Bergquist, T. M. (2011). Dolphin-assisted therapy for children with
special needs: A pilot study. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 6(1), 56-68.
Fiksdal, B. L., Houlihan, D., & Barnes, A. C. (2012). Dolphin-Assisted Therapy: Claims versus
Evidence. Autism Research and Treatment, 2012, 1–7.
https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/839792
Griffioen, R. E., & Enders-Slegers, M. J. (2014). The effect of dolphin-assisted therapy on the
cognitive and social development of children with Down syndrome. Anthrozoös, 27(4),
569-580.
Kreivinienė, B., & Perttula, J. (2014). Dolphin assisted therapy: innovative learning for children
with disabilities. Education in a Changing Society, 1(0), 1–16.
https://doi.org/10.15181/atee.v1i0.666
MdYusof, M. S. B., & Chia, N. K. H. (2012). Dolphin Encounter for Special Children (DESC)
Program: Effectiveness of Dolphin-Assisted Therapy for Children with Autism.
International journal of special education, 27(3), 54-67.