Re: Use of Animals during Speech Practice

[Guest guest]

SOOOOO agree with every word you say !!! We own 2 dogs and a parrot and

I'm a huge believer in animal assisted therapy- all kinds and that includes

hippotherapy (horseback riding) and swimming with dolphins, to reading with

dogs, and in general having a dog as a pet. One of my FAVORITE movies of all

times which to me sums up some of what we as families go through raising a

speech impaired child and how important a pet can be to a child such as this is

the movie ie which I recommend in The Late Talker book -and will forever

recommend here. Incredible movie. And -don't think any of us will ever

find as " vocal " of a pet!!!

Here's just one clip from this movie -but you could watch the entire movie on

Youtube if you wanted http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXn0qtOmFBc & feature=related

ie teaches the little girl to talk and the little girl inspires ie to

fly. (let me know if you and your child DON'T love this movie -I can't

imagine!)

By the way love the " Mo Na NA " (more nutriiveda) story. I wonder if he could

talk more if he's noticing a difference in himself and hope that it won't be

long till you can find out! My son Tanner is a huge fan on nutriiveda now

too and as I wrote in a message yesterday he spoke to Charlotte's son who had

refused to drink it even though he has the diabetes reason on top of apraxia.

(my MD friend is off all insulin from being on Nutriiveda- and it's well over 3

months now so I'm allowed to share). Tanner didn't know anything about that in

regards to Charlotte's son-but after speaking to him, he said he will drink it

now so if anyone wants to put their child on the phone with Tanner just let me

know -he's talked to a few kids from our group and loves to reach out and help

when he can. His advice to the kids " just mix it with anything you do like to

eat or drink and if you still don't like it hold your nose and just eat it

anyway. Nutriiveda really helped me a lot in so many ways " OK got to add that

up here http://pursuitofresearch.org/serving_suggestions.html !!

Here are some archive clips from this group -again way more in the archives and

so much research now backing this up too.

Dogs for children with apraxia?

Colleen -to me it's the best thing we ever did for our boys -get them a dog that

teaches them so many things like responsibility - that's always there to love

them no matter what. As we've posted in the past however -make sure the dog is

good with children -and that the children are good with the dog. Below are just

a few of the archives -and one that is quite interesting about a therapy dog

named Gypsy: From: " kiddietalk " <kiddietalk@...> Date: Thu Nov 20, 2003

8:10 pm Subject: Benefits of a child owning a pet What did I post about just

this morning as a joke?!! Hamsters right? Tomorrow is " mammal pet day " for

Tanner -he can't bring in Woodstock (my Amazon parrot -the one who can't be

around teflon) or his fish (until bird pet day and fish pet day) so Tanner asked

for a hamster to bring in. When Tanner and I came home today from a therapy

session -Daddy and Dakota surprised us with two new pet gerbils! (The pet store

talked Glenn out of getting two hamsters -said they would fight, but apparently

gerbils get along. Seems we can learn more from gerbils.) We always had lots of

pets too Karyn, but since our dog Max died and we found new homes for Coco and

Jock (our horse and pony) and the chickens and fish, it's only been " sister "

Woodstock for the past year. The boys never really took care of any pet

themselves up till now. I think this is a good thing -but will keep a close

watch to make sure it stays that way for the sake of all. (I myself worked

through FOZ at the Bronx and Central Park Zoo when I was only 13 - and know

little kids don't always make the best pet owners!) I'm sure you all know the

benefits of a child owning a pet, especially a special needs child. THE

POTENTIAL BENEFITS of ANIMAL ASSISTED THERAPY FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Dawn Oakley OTR/L and Gail Bardin, OTR/L According to journalist Odean Cusack,

" Anyone who has ever owned a pet will readily verify the benefits of associating

with furred, feathered, or finned friends. Animals are fun to be with and

comforting to hold. Their antics inspire humor and a sense of carefreeness, a

return to childhood with its buoyant spirits. Caring for pets encourages

nurturance, responsibility, and adherence to a daily schedule. Pets enable

owners to reach outside themselves and to put aside fears of an uncertain

future. Pets live in the immediate moment, and interacting with them makes us

keenly aware of the present with all its joys and idiosyncrasies. " For children

with special needs, the ability to interact with a dog, cat, or other furry

friend can have a very positive impact upon their quality of life. Interacting

with a pet can sometimes enhance recovery following a serious illness. It can

change behavior, create a sense of responsibility and even improve a child's

ability to participate in therapeutic treatment leading to achievement in

relation to identified goals and objectives. Children are often extremely

trusting and easily achieve a level of intimacy with animals. This special bond

contributes to pets' effectiveness as co- therapists. " Read entire article at :

http://www.kidneeds.com/diagnostic_categories/articles/animalassistedtherapy.htm

" Animal therapy boosts kids' health and hope "

As I listened to my former " late talker " diagnosed apraxic son Tanner talk to

his dog Simba this morning and say over and over " Who's the good boy, huh? " (in

a high voice like when you talk to a baby) and " I love you so much boy " ...as

clear as anything -it again reminded me how going to the Treasure Coast Humane

Society and rescuing Simba was one of the best things we've done since moving to

Florida (and we've done lots of great things here!) So in case any of you don't

know anything about how much " therapy " and teaching of care and love of others a

pet or animal can bring to help 'any' child -but especially " late talkers " :

Beverly Barna

South Florida Parenting

Throughout South Florida and around the world, various

forms of animal therapy are used as a means to help children

overcome physical, emotional and learning challenges.

Dolphins, horses, dogs, cats and even a few farm animals

pitch in at programs from Loxahatchee to the Keys to make

life a little easier and more enjoyable for kids with major

illnesses, special needs, or even stage fright.

Studies of animal therapy have shown repeatedly that

exposure to animals helps improve morale and

communication, bolster self-esteem, calm anxiety - even

reduce blood pressure and heart rate.

Specific animal therapies can augment traditional physical,

occupational or even speech therapy. Animals used in

therapy help children, often with severe challenges, to feel

better about themselves.

The choice of an appropriate animal-therapy program is

largely dependent on individual likes and dislikes, as well as

therapeutic needs. Doctors and therapists who are already

working with a child may be able to suggest animal therapy to

assist in the ongoing therapy. Issues such as allergies and

fears, as well as costs, all play a part in decision-making.

A pioneering approach

The use of animals to assist in therapy may go back

centuries. There is evidence that horses were used for

therapeutic riding in ancient Greek literature. But animal

therapy as a practice is a relatively new phenomenon.

Horses have been used continuously this century in physical

therapy, especially for people who were paralyzed by injury or

polio. But it wasn't until the 1990s that standards were set for

a clinical practice in horseback riding therapy, or

hippotherapy.

Similarly, the use of pets - dogs, mostly, but also a few cats -

in therapy for psychiatric and nursing home patients goes

back only to the 1960s. Today, pets are used to ease hospital

patients' anxiety, help children who are anxious about

learning to read, and for a number of other calming and

esteem-building therapies for learning disabled, autistic, ill

and physically disabled children and adults.

Pet therapy for many needs

non-threatening, environment. The Humane Society of

Broward County's Wags and Tales Reading Program offers

children ages 5-12 who are reluctant to read or who have

literacy deficiencies the chance to read to a pet therapy dog

at one of nine libraries in Broward County. The dog, of

course, doesn't care whether the child misses a word. But the

child's esteem and ability to read grows.

" It breaks down the barriers of insecurity, " says Marni

Bellavia, the humane society's education partnership

coordinator.

The dogs are not the only participants who are attuned to the

needs of their charges. The pet owners who volunteer with

their dogs to participate in the 2-year-old program " are highly

sensitive to every situation, " Bellavia says. Bellavia herself

started as a volunteer. She now oversees the pet-assisted

therapy program, working with 115 volunteers and about 80

facilities, including schools, children's hospitals and nursing

homes, primarily in Broward, but also in Miami-Dade and

Palm Beach counties.

Most of the children served are in hospitals; many are

wheelchair-bound with significant disabilities. The way the

children interact with the pets for therapeutic purposes is

determined by their rehabilitative program.

" A child can be aggressive, and we use animals to teach them

to be calmer, " she says. " We show them the proper way to

stroke a pet, which can reduce blood pressure and stress. If

the child's problem is focusing, we have them make eye

contact as the dogs move around the room. " In the case of a

blind child, " it's all about touch and sense of smell, so we

have a dog there to touch, " she said.

A paraplegic child can benefit from socializing therapy, by

meeting a trained dog and talking about the animal. Dexterity

can be enhanced by filling the dog's water bowl. A child

hospitalized with a broken leg might benefit from walking a

dog on a leash, while a child who has difficulty grasping can

work on holding a dog's brush or leash.

Whatever a child's challenges are, Bellavia says, with 140

dogs, two cats and their trained and certified ownervolunteers,

she is likely to have a team that can help -

although, like many such programs, more volunteers are

always welcome. " We're always looking for volunteers and

dogs, " she says. " We're not even close to having enough. "

And while her programs work primarily with dogs, Bellavia

points out that pet therapy can also include more exotic

animals, such as llamas and birds.

" Pet therapy, " she said, " is a huge world. " For kids like

Baldwin, it is one that can make a world of difference.

Beverly Barna is a freelance writer and mother. She lives in

Lake Worth.

I have so much more on pet or animal therapy in the archives. Effects of

Animal-Assisted Therapy on Autism (Video 1 of 5) (How dogs help autism)

1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb6Qv0NDDXk & feature=related

2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ow2lkHn58zk & feature=related

3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHbXVxheEL8 & feature=related

4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLn5DZJ2fAc & feature=related

5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKyT2-3pFpw & feature=related

=====

[Guest guest]

I completely agree with you!!!  Pets are so important.  We have 2 cats and

they don't help much since they are not vocal breeds (British Blue and an

American Shorthair) but my kids still love them.  My youngest is 2 and has

Apraxia and one of his few words is Audrey (AU-EEE) she is the shorthair.  My

kids play at the neighbors house often and whenever my little one goes over

there the first thing he does is wrap his arms around the big dog.  He talks to

him and lays on him, it seems that the dog is extremely comforting to him. 

He  likes to lay on our cats too but I'm sure you can guess how that goes. I

have been wondering if my son has some touch sensory issues going on, if he does

they do not seem to be too severe but he strongly dislikes being touched on his

face and sometimes his hands and screams as if I was torturing him at every

diaper change.  My little boy LOVES to get his fingers in this dogs fur and

wiggle his fingers around just

really feeling the fur; he even puts is face in the dogs fur. I have been

trying to convince my husband that we should get a dog of our own but he says we

are not ready yet because with 3 kids and one only 2 years old that we don't 

have the time for proper training.  I think we can make the time and I feel

that it would be so beneficial to our little one.  Somedays he can't seem to be

able to make many sounds but he can still crawl around and say " wu wu " which is

woof woof and carry things in his mouth pretending to be a dog. 

From: <>

Subject: [ ] Use of Animals during Speech Practice

Date: Monday, August 23, 2010, 2:21 AM

 

For those of you with younger children with Apraxia-

My Son is 3 years 5 months old. He was diagnosed with Moderate to Severe

Apraxia of Speech last October. There have been many gains with the use of NV

and fish Oils-- but the gains have been very slow. We also have Private ST 3X

per week, in addition to enrollment in a " Special Needs PK " 4X per week for 2.5

hours per day. (I had to fight to obtain 1:1 ST for my Son in this Setting

during his first IEP Meeting).

I noticed that my Son REALLY seems to love our pets..... we used to have 4- one

Yellow Lab who is age 13, and 3 cats. One of these cats is a Siamese named

Simba. Simba is age 12- and he " talks a lot " This is the nature of a Siamese.

Tyler has always seemed to want to " talk more " to this Siamese cat.... and the

cat talked back! Our pets are all getting " up in age " and my dad is very ill.

I did not want my children to feel sad as they experience the inevitable deaths

of the older pets and their Grandpa.... So-- I did something totally crazy.....

I got another pet-- a SAVANNAH kitten! I did my homework- and searched for a

Breed that is vocal, gets along with other pets, and is ok with kids... I also

loved the " exotic nature " of this Breed.... they are Hybrids between an " African

Serval " and a " domestic Cat " .

There is MAGIC going on in this House since the arrival of Bella.... She is VERY

vocal-- and more playful than any other Breed that I have ever experienced as a

cat lover. My Son Tyler loves her-- and she seems to love him. Tyler talks to

her - and she talks back...... it is adorable. We are now conducting Tyler's

" Speech Homework " in our bedroom with Bella present. Tyler seems to be so much

more motivated to " use his words " when Bella is present.

Pets are so good for kids with Special Needs. Kids have such a special bond with

their pets. I would highly suggest 2 Breeds of Cats to all of you for your

kids..... these are cats who are VOCAL-- I feel that the " vocal nature " of these

2 Breeds is helpful to my Son- he loves them- and he WANTS to talk to them--

they talk back-- and always understand what he is saying.... this encourages him

to TALK MORE to them.

1. SIAMESE-- these cats NEVER stop talking..... They are very playful as

kittens.... I have found that the " Apple Head " variety appears to be more mello.

(Apple Heads look more like typical cats and do not have the angular faces). As

they approach being one year old, they tend to bond to ONE person in the

Family-- but they are friendly to everyone else as well. I got my Siamese

before I had kids-- he is an " older cat now " .... he is no longer playful at age

12- but he still seems to have a " Special bond " with Tyler-- he always responds

to Tyler when Tyler speaks to him. He has never acted in an aggressive manner

to either of my kids. This is a Breed that is very Vocal- you can obtain one at

a decent price-- your children will love this " playful vocal breed " .

2. SAVANNAH- OMG - I have owned one for less than a week.... and I am SO

IMPRESSED with her. She is VERY VOCAL and VERY playful and VERY sweet. Tyler

loves her- and she seems to motivate Tyler to " practice his words " . I am

loving every moment of this! Savannahs can be a bit expensive- and many

Breeders take advantage of Pricing . I was lucky- my cousin used to be a

Breeder of " Pixie Bobs " -- and she referred me to her friend who had Savannahs.

I was able to obtain a well socialized F2 Savannah from her without having to

rob a Bank! Bella is very vocal-- and Tyler responds to her playfulness and

vocalizations.

Pets play an important role with our young kids.... I have seen " Pet Therapy " at

work during my past Nursing Job Days. I believe in it.... and I incorporate

pets into my son's Speech Practice throughout the day. I am writing this last

sentence with tears in my eyes. My son spoke his first 4 word sentence to me

tonight as I put him to bed. What he said sounded like this: " UH AHH EW Ma

Ma " ... (I love you Ma Ma).... WOW!

I am not trying to say that having a vocal pet is the answer..... but I will say

that it can help..... We believe in being open to all avenues to help our Son-

NV and Fish Oils have been instrumental in his progress... Our Son actually

requests a " Na Na Ba Ba " ---- (his words for Vanilla flavored NV mixed with

Pediasure)... He used to say " Ba Ba " for a bottle.... he uses the same word for

a " sippy cup " now. He gets 1/2 Scoop of Vanilla Flavored NV 2x per day mixed

with his Pediasure.... He can taste the difference when the NV is not added--

and he yells " Mo Na NA " .... (More Vanilla NV)..... He is a smart kid- he knows

where the NV is stored-- and he drags a chair across our kitchen so that he can

reach it... He wants MORE of it..... A combo of all of the above mentioned

things seems to be helping my Son.... I do feel that pets can help younger

children as well.

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