Service Dogs for Autism - 1145 Words

As of 2012, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that one in 50 children between the ages of six and seventeen has autism spectrum disorder, with males being four times more likely than females to have these conditions (Slaughter 1). Autism is a developmental disorder that affects the brains normal development of social and communication skills. Service dogs are normally used to aid the blind, deaf or hard of hearing, and other types of disabilities. Service dogs have recently been used to help children with autism. The service dog industry has had a growing impact on the autism community, the benefits and disadvantages affect each child differently. Autism was first discovered by Leo Kanner in 1943, he labeled it as†¦show more content†¦The dog becomes the child’s constant companion, the sense of loneliness is taken away from the child. The children in these cases reported increased physical independence and freedom from relying on others to assit in daily tasks (Davis 136). The dogs undergo serious training before being placed with the child. Sometimes the dog and child would actually meet weeks leading up to the placement to warm up to eachother before permanent placement. The parent is the primary handler, the dog is trained to guide the child but ultimately take orders or listen to the parent. The dog is tethered to the child by a harness and put on a leash that the parent carries, this gives the child freedom and the parent security, the dog controls the child from darting off. The cost of a service dog can be very expensive, if not obtained by an organization that receives donations and helps the family out. The average annual cost to maintain a dog was $1307, with a range of $195-$5134 (Davis 134). The daily routine changes in some of the families affected the dogs negatively. The dog would have bathroom accidents in the home, which were frowned upon by the family. The stress of the day to day activities with the child would be too much for the dog to handle at times, fatigue and attitude changes were apparent. The majority of problems faced with a service dog can be eliminated, with a set routine and normal breaks given to the dog. Public places nowadays are normallyShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Animal Assisted Therapy On An Individual s Life1152 Words   |  5 Pagesa lot of attention is the use of animal-assisted therapy (frequently dogs) for individuals with autism. While research is limited, studies reveal that children with an ASD laugh, talk and display other positive social behaviors when they have a companion animal with them. A recent study explored the viewpoints of youth with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). This innovative study finds that animals help individuals with autism combat feelings of loneliness. 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