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Equine Assisted Therapy as Strategy in Speech Language Pathology
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- 3. Traditional therapy Equine Assisted Therapy THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS • SENSORY INTEGRATION • HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND •VOLITION/MOTIVATION • SOCIAL INTERACTION • NEURODEVELOPMENT Introduction FP134 – Melo Pestana and Vaz Freitas – IALP 2013
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- 5. TERMS COMMONLY USED WHEN ANIMALS ENGAGE IN HEALTH AND EDUCATION Introduction equinotherapy hippotherapy animal assisted therapy animal assisted activities adaptive riding therapeutic riding nature based therapy pettherapy FP134 – Melo Pestana and Vaz Freitas – IALP 2013
- 6. Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) as: • Intentional and therapeutic act, whereby the animal’s role is integral in assisting with mental health, speech, occupational therapy or physical therapy goals • Criteria in AAT: –Animals must meet specific criteria that fit the therapeutic goals (e.g., behavior); – Animals considered a necessary part of the treatment; – Therapy is conducted by a qualified professional or practitioner; – Therapeutic intentions include physical, social, emotional, or cognitive gains; – Therapy can occur in group or individual sessions; and, all treatment must be assessed and documented. Introduction Let’s do this with Equines! (Cole,. 2009, Kruger & Serpell, 2009) FP134 – Melo Pestana and Vaz Freitas – IALP 2013
- 7. The lack of scientific evidence in this particular field and the inherent difficulty to prove the efficacy of this powerful strategy was the motivationfor the authors. …in health 76 ...to attain goals of SLP scope 15 Evidence levels I-III 25% Evidence levels – IV-VI 75% Scientific publications about using horses… Introduction FP134 –Melo Pestana and Vaz Freitas – IALP 2013
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- 9. With this study we intend to justify the presence of a speech therapist in an equine assisted therapy facility. •This study aims to: a) Understand the contribution of EAT in goal achieving of speech therapy b) Analyze the relationship between the necessity and priority of speech language pathology fields and its fulfillments in an EAT program c) Analyze the relationship between the priority of speech language pathology fields among different diagnosis and distinctive age classes. If these hypothesis are proven, then the inclusion of a SLP in an Equestrian Center is well justified. Objectives FP134 – Melo Pestana and Vaz Freitas – IALP 2013
- 10. • Data collection: two Equestrian Centers from the north of Portugal, where the therapeutic role is present. • Transversal study, with retrospective analysis of data. •Population: all the cases in private practice of that Equestrian Centers. • The speech pathologist has acquired advanced equestrian skill which enables him to apply with confidence and safety this strategy – he is present in every sessions • 13 years showjumping riding; • Level I American Hippotherapy Association Methods FP134 – Melo Pestana and Vaz Freitas – IALP 2013
- 11. • Variables were collected and analyzed for the 24 subjects. • Descriptive statistic measures are pointed for: •Inferential statistic: Pearson Chi-square. Age class Functional diagnosis Need for Speech Therapy Presence of SLP goals Methods FP134 – Melo Pestana and Vaz Freitas – IALP 2013
- 12. • It was found a prevalence of cases under the age of 7 years old (41,7%) <7 42% 7-13 37% >13 21% Distribution Results - Age Class FP134 –Melo Pestana and Vaz Freitas – IALP 2013
- 13. • The most common functional diagnosis was the communication disorders due to autism spectrum disorder (37,5%) Results – Functional Diagnosis 02 4 6 8 10 What is the functional diagnosis? Frequency Percent Communication Disorder / Autism 9 37,5 Motor Speech Disorder 6 25 Comorbidity 4 16,7 Speech Sound Disorder 3 12,5 Speech Delay 1 4,2 Childhood Apraxia of Speech 1 4,2 Total 24 100 FP134 – Melo Pestana and Vaz Freitas – IALP 2013
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- 15. • It was also noticed that the identification of this priority is different among age classes (x2=7,487, p=0,024); the oldest subjects have other concern areas. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 <7 7-13>13 Age Class 7 6 0 3 3 5 Is Communication, Language and Speech goals a priority? No Is Communication, Language and Speech goals a priority? Yes Results FP134 – Melo Pestana and Vaz Freitas – IALP 2013
- 16. • Correlation between the communication, language and speech goals and types of diagnoses is significant (x2=18,294, p=0,003): all the communication disorders due to ASD have these areas as priority, in opposition to motor speech disorders. 0 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Speech Sound Disorder Communication Disorder / Autism Motor Speech Disorder Speech Delay Comorbidity Childhood Apraxia of Speech What is the funtional diagnosis? 1 9 1 1 1 2 6 3 Is Communication, Language and Speech goals a priority? Yes Is Communication, Language and Speech goals a priority? No Results FP134 – Melo Pestana and Vaz Freitas – IALP 2013
- 17. • With a significant result, we concluded that the cases with necessity of speech-language pathology intervention benefits of inclusion in a EAT program that covers these fields (x2=8,372, p=0,04). Results Does the child benefits of Speech Therapy goals at EAT facility? Total YesNo Does the patient needs conventional speech therapy? Yes 17 4 21 No 0 3 3 Total 17 7 24 FP134 – Melo Pestana and Vaz Freitas – IALP 2013
- 18. • This research underscores the importance of integrating a speech therapist in the team of an Equine Assisted Therapy program, with greater relevance in preschool and school ages. •More requested by patients with communication disorders due to ASD, – although they have a role in all established diagnoses involving communication, language and speech impairments. Conclusions FP134 – Melo Pestana and Vaz Freitas – IALP 2013
- 19. Final considerations • Knowledge fields: Speech Pathology; Classical riding; Equine Assisted Therapy • Although it is difficult, we need to research more, due to the results attained until this right moment. melopestana@gmail.com Speech Language Hippotherapy Blog (English) http://slhippotherapy.blogspot.com FP134 –Melo Pestana and Vaz Freitas – IALP 2013
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