ANIMAL-ASSISTED SERVICE AS A CLINICAL STRATEGY FOR AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER 9 5

A SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY EXPERIENCE REPORT

Abstract

This experience report describes the integration of the co-therapist dogs Nutella and Toddy (Labrador Retrievers) and Charlotte (Jack Russell Terrier) into speech-language therapy sessions with 23 children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), including 20 boys and 3 girls of preschool and school age. The sessions were conducted weekly, lasting 40 minutes each, over a period of 12 weeks. The Behavioral Observation Protocol (PROC) and the Language Development Assessment – 2 (ADL-2) were administered at the beginning of the assessment process, followed by the development of Individualized Therapeutic Plans (ITPs), and reapplied at the end to compare outcomes. Analysis of the clinical records revealed greater engagement in therapeutic activities, reduced stereotyped behaviors, improved joint attention, increased eye contact, and a higher frequency of spontaneous word production. Examples included a child who began maintaining eye contact for up to 10 seconds and another who started using simple verbal commands. Family reports also demonstrated enthusiasm and positive expectations regarding the sessions. Despite the variability inherent to ASD and the absence of a control group, the findings are consistent with the literature, suggesting that Animal-Assisted Services (AAS) are a promising interdisciplinary resource to enrich speech-language pathology practice and promote communicative and social development.