Human dolphin therapy

Dolphin assisted therapy has become an international rehabilitation program found in at least a dozen countries; the United States, Australia, Mexico and, Russia just to name a few. The therapies conducted at these facilities include three critical elements. First is the skill and experience of the trained staff. Second is the motivation of the parents to be there and to take the workshops, and learn how to continue therapy. Finally, the use of the dolphins and the interaction between the patients. The dolphins are used as a reward. The two week program is connected to a significant increase in language, speech, gross and fine

In order for these people to overcome this, learning may be induced by first exposing them for long enough periods of time to cues of a stimulus, which in turn can elicit behavior that learning has taken place. Dolphin assisted therapy supports the fact that animals appear to increase attention; thereby it improves the human’s cognitive process. In turn, patients experience stimulation of the immune system when interacting with dolphins, thus promoting healing. Individuals receive such joy and unconditional love from the dolphins that they are more likely to experience recovery. These results have been taken from results of brain wave patterns, psychological testing, blood chemistry, the state of the brain, cell make-up and, health of the immune system.

In the field of therapy there are three theoretical bases. The first base is the attention deficit hypotheses. This explains why many people from the disabled population have such a hard time with learning and motivation. This hypothesis states that mentally disabled people have trouble processing all the different dimensions of a particular stimulus, rather than the inability to process information.

Dolphin assisted therapy dates back to the 1950’s with the work of Dr. John Lilly. He studied the effects dolphins made on humans with disabilities. In 1971, an educational anthropologist named Dr. Betsy Smith from the Florida International University is credited with having initiating the first beginnings of research in this field. By accident, Smith discovered that some of the dolphins she was studying responded with extraordinary sympathy to her mentally handicapped brother. It was then when she began to consider the fact that the dolphins could possibly aid in therapeutic programs for handicapped patients. In 1978 and 1979 the first dolphin-assisted pilot was conducted. It took place at Ocean World in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida by Dr. David Nathanson, who is now known as the father of dolphin assisted therapy. It was at this time that the dolphin assisted therapy programs developed into two days per week, one therapist program, at the Dolphin Research Center in Grassy Key, Florida from 1988 to 1994. In 1995/1996, Dolphin assisted therapy became a full time, five day per week, multiple therapist program at Dolphins Plus in Key Largo, Florida. Finally in 1997 Dolphin assisted therapy became a full time, multiple therapist programs at the Miami Seaquarium on Virginia Key in Miami, Florida. This is the original dolphin therapy center and, they now categorize their therapy as Dolphin-Human Therapy. Many other dolphin assisted therapy centers have opened and have treated numerous patients, but the

Thirteen injuries from various facilities were reported to the National Marine Fisheries Service between 1980 and 1994.

To ensure that dolphin assisted therapy was indeed producing positive results; Dr. Nathanson composed a survey questionnaire to be filled out by the parents of the patients that were treated in dolphin therapy. Of the 139 questionnaires sent out 137 were answered. These questionnaires produced evidence that 95% of children who received therapy, later showed signs of long term effects resulting from dolphin assisted therapy sessions. According to Nathanson’s survey, long terms effects that were maintained or improved are in order of highest to lowest: 69% benefited with participating in family activities, 65% benefited in special education classes, 60% maintained better eye contact, 59% benefited in speech t

Some topics in this essay:
Cancer Down’s, Dolphin-Human Therapy, David Nathanson1998, According Nathanson’s, Human Therapy, Fisheries Service, Mexico Russia, Assisted Therapy, International University, Dr Nathanson, dolphin assisted, dolphin assisted therapy, assisted therapy, dolphin therapy, therapy sessions, therapy dolphin, therapy programs, dolphin interaction, special education, conventional therapy, dolphin-assisted therapy, service delivery system, body tissue cell, dolphin human therapy, therapy dolphin assisted,