Dolphin-Assisted Therapy for Children With Special Needs: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Dolphin-assisted therapy (DAT), as a part of animal-assisted therapy and complementary and alternative medicine, yields several positive results. This study intended to add to DAT effectiveness research while using a standardized assessment. In the Ukraine, a DAT program called DolphinSwim agreed to take part in research with 37 voluntary participants. These participants were the parents of children with special needs, as defined by a variety of diagnoses, including developmental, cognitive, emotional, and physical disorders. An evaluation of five treatment programs took place during a 2-week period. The Behavior Dimensions Rating Scale was administered to program participants during pretreatment and posttreatment on site. Paired-samples t-tests indicated positive behavioral changes in children, as reported by parents. The article concludes with a discussion of the results and suggestions for future research.