Children with autism may benefit from service dogs

By Staff Writer

A new study conducted at the Universite de Montreal has revealed that children with autism spectrum disorders may significantly benefit from having a specially-trained service dog.

The research - which was published in the journal Psychoneuroendrocinology - could be a simple solution to help kids and their families cope with such developmental disorders.

"Our findings showed that the dogs had a clear impact on the children's stress hormone levels," the researchers said. They added that they "have not seen such a dramatic effect before."

The team measured the amount of a stress hormone called cortisol in the saliva of 42 autistic children. They discovered that the compound is a very useful marker of stress, and that it efficiently predicted the kids' levels of anxiety with and without the use of a service dog.

Throughout the experiment, parents completed a questionnaire that reported the behaviors of their children before, during and after the introduction of the dog. Kids who had a service dog appeared to exhibit fewer problematic behaviors than those who did not.

In addition to animal companions, wilderness camps can provide children who have autism with the education and support that they need to live healthy, productive lives.