Contact with dogs could help autistic children

[Guest guest]

Contact with dogs 'could help autistic children'

Autistic children could benefit from the presence of a dog, it has been

suggested.

Researchers from the University of Montreal revealed that specifically trained

service dogs had a positive impact on the anxiety levels of children with Autism

Syndrome Disorders.

Furthermore, the dogs were found to improve the socialisation skills of the

children.

Lupien, senior researcher and a professor at the university, commented:

" Out findings showed that the dogs had a clear impact on the children's stress

hormone levels.

" I have not seen such a dramatic effect before. "

Published in Psychoneuroendocrinology, the report suggested that the animals

could provide a " relatively simple " method of taking some of the stress out of

the lives of the children and their family.

The researchers determined the children's stress levels by looking at the amount

of cortisol in their saliva.

Cortisol is a hormone produced in reaction to stress and tends to peak around a

half an hour after waking up and decline during the course of the day.