Therapy dogs for children with autism spectrum disorder

Cilj rada je prikazati kakav je učinak rada s terapijskim psima na kvalitetu života djece s poremećajem iz spektra autizma, na njihovu verbalnu i neverbalnu komunikaciju, ograničene interese i stereotipne aktivnosti i interese te poremećaje socijalne interakcije koji karakteriziraju poremećaje iz spektra autizma. Također su prikazane informacije o ustanovama u Republici Hrvatskoj koje djeci s poremećajem iz spektra autizma omogućuju terapiju i život s terapijskim psima te koje su prednosti, odnosno nedostatci ovakve terapije. Pregledom više istraživanja uočeno je kako terapijski psi pozitivno djeluju na ponašanje djece s poremećajem iz spektra autizma, na njihovu verbalnu i neverbalnu komunikaciju te interakciju s drugima. Ograničenja ovakve terapije prvenstveno se odnose na nedostatak istraživanja koja bi dala više informacija o konkretnom učinku samog terapijskog psa na djecu s poremećajem iz spektra autizma.The aim of this article is to see the effects of the dog assisted therapy on quality of life of children with autism spectrum disorder, their verbal and non-verbal communication, limited interests and stereotypical activities and interests as well as social interaction disorders which characterise autism spectrum disorders. There are also presented informations about institutions in the Republic of Croatia which provide therapy and living with therapy dogs for children with autism spectrum disorder and what are the advantages and disadvantages of this kind of therapy. By studying several researches it has been identified that therapy dogs have positive effects on the behavior of children with autism spectrum disorder, their verbal and non-verbal communication and interaction with others. Therapy disadvantages are mainly related to lack of researches that could give more informations about specific impacts of therapy dog on children with autism spectrum disorder