Sensory Integration Therapy with a Therapy Dog

Sensory Integration Therapy with a Therapy Dog

What is Sensory Integration?
Sensory integration is a neurological process that organizes sensory stimuli from one's own body and surroundings, enabling the individual to respond appropriately and purposefully to environmental demands and tasks.

Sensory Integration Therapy Program with a Therapy Dog
The Sensory Integration Therapy (SIAT®) is conducted according to the fundamental principles established by Dr. A. Jean Ayres, with the inclusion of a therapy dog as an innovative and unique approach in this type of therapy. This program is designed for children with developmental difficulties and sensory integration dysfunction, including sensory processing challenges, behavior organization issues, self-regulation problems, muscle tone disorders, difficulties with fine and gross motor skills, dyspraxia, motor planning issues, perception disorders, arousal level problems, and difficulties with play.

Sensory integration dysfunction, as a neurological disorder, may occur independently or be associated with a specific condition, syndrome, or illness due to insufficient maturation of the nervous system caused by premature birth, motor development difficulties, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorders, visual impairments, attention and concentration disorders (ADD/ADHD), language and speech difficulties, learning disabilities, hearing impairments, intellectual disabilities, etc. Through the intervention in sensory integration processes and their (re)habilitation, functional abilities and adaptive behavior in children are improved. Sensory integration therapy has been shown to enhance the quality of adaptive behavior and enable appropriate responses to environmental demands.

For children with developmental difficulties, who are often burdened with various other demanding therapies, the presence of a therapy dog during sensory integration therapy creates a sense of safety and trust. The presence of the dog provides significant emotional support, reduces anxiety, encourages positive mood, and the child's bond with the dog helps them feel that challenges, even the more difficult ones, can be overcome more easily through play and companionship.

The therapy dog plays a supportive role, motivating the child during exercises and play, and also influences the development of sensory and sensory modalities (hearing, smell, touch) through its characteristics.

Before starting therapy, the child undergoes an assessment that includes an initial baseline recording, clinical observation, sensory integration tests, questionnaires, an interview with parents, and an initial evaluation with the therapy dog.

After the assessment, the child is included in the therapy, which lasts depending on the child's needs, ranging from 6 months to 2 years.