Dear The Nation Thailand,
We are writing in response to your recent story and video, “Therapy dogs offer companionship to children with autism in China.” We appreciate your efforts to provide information to parents of children on the autism spectrum about different therapy approaches they may be considering. We enjoyed learning about the methods used to train the dogs to provide support and companionship to individuals with specialized needs, and we loved seeing video of the children at the school interacting with the dogs. It was apparent that the parents and children at Xi’an Qizhi school, a specialist school for children with autism, greatly enjoyed the visits from the dogs. We think that all children should have opportunities to spend time with animals (should they wish to) and learn how to interact safely and respectfully with animals. Visits with the dogs at the school may have also presented new opportunities for social interactions between children and may have provided opportunities for the children to practice skills like following instructions, waiting, and turn taking.
The rise in prevalence of autism has resulted in an increase in therapies for the condition, including the use of service dogs specifically trained to work with individuals with autism. While this type of therapy may be becoming more prominent, we suggest that caution is needed when evaluating the effectiveness of service (or therapy) dogs for children with autism. Our article, Is There Science Behind That? Autism Service Dogs, suggests that well trained dogs can ensure the safety of autism individuals, provide sensory stimulation, and increase opportunities for social interactions. However, some problems with current studies on the effectiveness of autism service dogs have been identified. For example, Silva, Correia, Lima, Magalhães and de Sousa (2011) found that one child on the autism spectrum displayed fewer negative behaviors (e.g., verbal and physical aggression) and more positive behaviors (e.g., visual contact and play) when the service dog was present. However, the study presented findings for only one participant, and therefore cannot be generalized to a wider population. Future research is needed to ensure the safety of service dogs for people with autism (both child and dog), the conditions under which an service dog may be appropriate, the necessary training needed for dogs and caregivers, and to compare the outcomes and effectiveness of service dogs with other established interventions.
Our mission at the Association for Science and Autism Treatment is to share accurate information about evidence-based treatments and counter pseudoscience. There are many possible benefits associated with pet ownership, including companionship, increased exercise opportunities, and improved social skills. However, at present, the therapeutic effects of service dogs for children with autism are not well known. In addition, there may be some risks or downsides associated with autism service dogs or dog ownership more generally. First, the financial cost associated with service dogs is likely to be prohibitive for many families. Second, the dog will require substantial attention and care to ensure its basic needs for food, warmth, sleep, and exercise are met. Third, some children with autism may display behaviors (such as aggression or sleep disruption) that can put the dog’s safety and wellbeing at risk. Finally, some children with autism may be frightened of dogs or might not prefer the company of dogs. Thus, there are many factors to consider when deciding whether to bring a dog, for therapy purposes or simple companionship, into the home. We hope you will direct your readers to our website, particularly our page Learn More About Specific Treatments, for more information about identifying the science-supported treatments for individuals with autism.
Sincerely,
Ximing Huang, ASAT Extern
Erin Leif, PhD, BCBA-D
Reference:
Silva, K., Correia, R., Lima, M., Magalhães, A., & de Sousa, L. (2011). Can dogs prime autistic children for therapy: Evidence from a single case study. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, June, 17(7), 655-659.
