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D.U.Quark

Abstract

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is a method of informal animal interaction that is individualized to a patient by a medical professional. This form of therapy has been found to benefit children more than physical, occupational, or mental therapy alone. This practice intertwines animal incorporation with traditional therapy to improve results, relieve stress, and benefit mood and mental stability. Since this is a relatively new practice, the lasting effects, consistency, and validity of trial results are still unknown. However, incorporating animals has been found to positively impact the physical and mental well-being of children who partake in sessions. The purpose of this review is to highlight some mechanisms and effects of animal-assisted therapy and activities for children and youth with autism spectrum disorder. This is a promising practice to use in the future, and the continuation of these trials is important to further advance animal-assisted interactions in the medical field and to discover the most effective therapy methods.

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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