Equine-Assisted Occupational Therapy: Increasing Engagement for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Area of Science:

• Occupational therapy
• Developmental psychology
• Animal-assisted therapy

Background:

• Meaningful activity engagement is crucial for development.
• Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often exhibit reduced engagement in activities and relationships.
• Limited engagement can hinder developmental progress in children with ASD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of incorporating horses into occupational therapy on task engagement in children with ASD.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of equine-assisted occupational therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder.

Main Methods:

• A multiple-baseline design was employed.
• The study included 7 children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
• Participants' ages ranged from 4 to 8 years.

Main Results:

• Children with ASD demonstrated notable improvements in task engagement during occupational therapy sessions.
• The inclusion of horses positively influenced children's participation and engagement levels.
• Observed improvements suggest a beneficial effect of equine involvement.

Conclusions:

• Incorporating horses into occupational therapy may enhance conventional treatments for children with ASD.
• Equine-assisted occupational therapy presents a potentially valuable addition to existing interventions.
• Further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms and develop a theoretical framework for this intervention.