Effects of Animal-assisted interventions on the
development of children with Down syndrome and
children with autistic behavior
Heerlen, December 6th, 2013
Richard Griffioen, asp. Promovendus
Graduate School Open University
Promotor: Prof. Dr. Marie-Jose Enders-Slegers
Professor 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
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The effect on the cognitive and social
development
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Children with Down Syndrome
N=44
Pre-post and follow-up measurement
Cross-over design, 2 control groups
Dolphin-assisted interventions
Number of participants
in various groups at various intervals
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* total of 43 instead of 44 at T3 as one questionnaire was not returned.
**At T5 several questionnaires have not been returned
Dolphin-assisted interventions
Procedures (1)
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Interventions at Dolphinarium Harderwijk, the
Netherlands
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Open water Lagoon
17 bottlenose dolphins
Well-being of the dolphins is monitored
No swim program!!
6 week program, once a week
Dolphin-assisted interventions
Procedures (2)
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DAT group
 Behavioral approach
 Teaching different tasks
 Exercise speech and language tasks
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Control group (swimming pool)
 Same exercises, positive rewarded (play with
radio-controlled ship)
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Control group (waiting list)
 No interventions
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Dolphin-assisted interventions
MESSIER Questionnaire
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Verbalization
Impulsiveness
Contact
Understanding of rules
Recognition
Dolphin-assisted interventions
Results / conclusions (repeated measures ANOVA)
Control group (T1-T2):
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no signifcant improvement for any of
the variables
DAT group (T3-T4), significant improvement of:
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verbalization (f=3,755; p=0,036)
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recognition (f=4,426; p=0,026)
Follow-up (T5):
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•
verbalization continued to increase
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recognition slightly
decreased
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 nonverbal 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
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