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ERIC Number: EJ1072048
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015-Sep
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2154-1647
EISSN: N/A
Animal Assisted Interventions for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review
Davis, Tonya N.; Scalzo, Rachel; Butler, Erin; Stauffer, Megan; Farah, Yara N.; Perez, Scott; Mainor, Kristen; Clark, Cathryn; Miller, Stacy; Kobylecky, Alicia; Coviello, Laura
Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities, v50 n3 p316-329 Sep 2015
Animal assisted intervention (AAI), which has been defined as the use of an animal to provide therapeutic benefit based on a positive relationship between the client and the animal, is a therapy option for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); therefore, it is beneficial to review studies that evaluated its effectiveness. A systematic search identified 20 studies that were assessed in terms of (a) participant characteristics, (b) independent variables, (c) dependent variables, (d) study outcomes, and (e) certainty of evidence. Although AAI studies reported either positive or mixed results, multiple methodological flaws were identified across the literature, which is cause for concern when determining intervention efficacy. Because of these contradictory findings and research design limitations, additional inquiry is needed. As such, caregivers and practitioners should exercise caution in selecting AAI as part of an intervention package for children with ASD.
Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities, Council for Exceptional Children. DDD, P.O. Box 3512, Fayetteville, AR 72702. Tel: 479-575-3326; Fax: 479-575-6676; Web site: http://daddcec.org/Publications/ETADDJournal.aspx
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Information Analyses
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A