Author/Authors :
Taziki ، T نويسنده MA Student, Department of Psychology and Education of Exceptional Children, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran , , Afrooz ، G, نويسنده Elite Professor, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran , , Ghasemzadeh، S نويسنده Ph.D student, Department of Psychology and Education of Exceptional Children, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran , , Ahmadi، M نويسنده MA Student, Department of Foreign Language, AllamehTabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran ,
Abstract :
The aim of this research was to estimate the effectiveness of animal-assisted therapy on
autistic children. In this study pets were used for educational and motivational effectiveness
for autistic children in order to increase the rapport between autistic child and therapist and to
reduce the main qualitative impairment in social interaction, communication, and restricted
and repetitive behavior. For this purpose, 12 autistic children, living in the province of Tehran,
were randomly placed in an experimental and a control group. Before and after the
intervention program, the Autism Treatment Evaluation checklist (ATEC) was completed by
parents and therapists. MANCOVA test were used in order to analyze the research data. The
results confirm the effect of treatment on the improvement of social and communication skills,
and also reducing stereotyped behaviors. This represents that animal assisted therapy improved
communication, social skills, emotional reciprocity, as well as reducing stereotypical and
repetitive behaviors of Autistic Children.
