Autism is a disorder seen in children, which could lead to behavioral and communication problems. Children suffering from this disorder often experience verbal and nonverbal communication impairments, lack of coordination, repetitive speech patterns and hyper-focus on one or two particular areas of interest. There is no cure for autism, though the treatment is aimed at behavior modification and improvement. This condition is treated with the help of medication and various forms of therapy, which include behavioral and speech therapy. Animal assisted therapy is a fairly new form of treatment recommended for several types of disorders. Several parents are now exploring equine therapy or horseback riding therapy for autism. Given below are some of the benefits associated with horse therapy for children with autism:
How does horse therapy for autism work?
Health experts who advocate horse therapy for children with autism claim that the rhythmic motion of riding a horse causes the child to concentrate on the slow and deliberate movement. Horse riding also has a highly calming effect on your child.
Apart from the positive impact of the slow, relaxing and deliberate movements, horse riding also helps stimulate your child's tactile senses. Horses have a fuzzy skin, rough tail and mane as well as a soft nose. The discovery of all these sensations could stimulate the development of verbal communication and spike interests in other physical objects. As your child learns to ride and gradually groom and tack the horse, his motor skills are also likely to get enhanced.
However, it is important for a therapist and other skilled staff to be close at hand, to ensure that the environment is safe and secure, as your child picks up new skills. During these sessions your child will interact with his counselor as well as other people and children. You may also notice an increase in willingness and desire to learn new skills at home and at school. With the help of horse therapy, you can let your child know that learning is no longer scary, but can be fun, rewarding and interesting.
At the moment, Horse Therapy is not recognized a valid treatment for autism, mainly because of the lack of adequate research. However, there is a general consensus in the medical community that therapy involving animals is highly beneficial in the treatment of autism. Of all the different forms of animal assisted therapy, horse therapy seems to have the best results for autism treatment.
However, it is important to check with a doctor before trying any alternate treatment for autism.
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