Hi!
I’m Higgins!
THE IMPORTANCE OF DOG THERAPY
“He has a calm personality and is conditioned to handle whatever happens to him,” Miller says. Higgins has worked with rehabilitation patients who need encouragement in their therapy sessions. He has been especially helpful in working with children with autism, who can have many issues surrounding social interactions. “When Higgins enters the room, the children become much calmer,” Miller says. “A lot of children with autism don’t make eye contact with other people, but they will make eye contact
by allowing the techniques to be demonstrated on him. For children who have trouble going to bed and falling asleep at night, Higgins demonstrates by lying down and pulling his blanket over himself. “Sometimes the children will actually lie next to him because they want to imitate him,” Miller says. Why do children with autism relate so comfortably to a dog? “The dog gives unconditional love,” Maxim says. “They wait for the child to give a signal, and then they respond right away. They are kind, soft, cuddly, forgiving and accepting.”
(WOOF)
“The dog gives unconditional love... They are kind, soft, cuddly, forgiving and accepting.”
Many children may benefit from having a companion dog, she says. Caring for the dog can boost self-esteem, and walking the dog may help children experience social acceptance. “If you are walking your dog, other kids will approach you to play with your dog, and you might feel more self assured,” Maxim explains. Ryan Rea, 8, and sister Madison Rea, 9, are patients in the Knights of Columbus Developmental Center. “Ryan has classic autism, and Madison has pervasive developmental disorder,” says their mother, Alice Rea, who also is a medical technician in Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center’s laboratory service. “Lack of communication was the big thing that led Higgins goes nose to nose with Madison Rea giving her peace of mind to their diagnoses. with Higgins. Some of the children don’t initiate play or learn by imitation. One child who had never initiated play with another child arranged the tea set and poured Higgins a cup of water. Her father said it was the first time she had ever done that,” she continues. Higgins also has calmed children before physical exams or blood drawing
before she has lab tests.
14 • Cardinal Glennon Children’s Foundation
They just didn’t talk.” Madison’s diagnosis, pervasive developmental disorder, is one subtype of the autism spectrum disorders. Office visits have been calmer with Higgins’ assistance, Alice explains. “Last time we were here, Madison went downstairs to have blood drawn. They had Higgins pretend he was having blood drawn, then Madison had hers drawn,” she says. “It went fine. Two months prior to that, she was kicking and scratching when her blood was drawn.” Ryan has been drawn out socially. “Before Higgins, Ryan was running all over the room and looking out the window. He Higgins has helped Ryan and Madison become more comfortdidn’t want to in social interactions, says participate. This able their mom, Alice Rea. is big,” his mother says. “He is sitting there very nicely and visiting with Higgins, and is interested in the tea party. Every year there has been significant improvement. They are more vocal and are learning how to interact and do pretend play.” The Knights of Columbus Developmental Center staff has begun a research project to quantify the behavioral responses that Higgins can elicit in therapy sessions. “We have collected data on more than 20 children,” Maxim says. “We tried different activities with and without the dog in the room. We want to see if the child will participate more, have more imagination and follow directions more readily if they are participating with the dog.” So Higgins is not only a therapist but also a scientist? “Yes,” Miller says. “Higgins is a clinical researcher.”