Subjective approach towards welfare understanding in the dolphin assisted therapy: experiences of families in pilot research

Abstract

<p class="Standard">The article deals with a subjective approach towards the welfare of humans and dolphins perceived in the dolphin assisted therapy. Dolphin assisted therapy (DAT) is a therapy based on both-sided collaborative communication between child and dolphin. A pilot research of subjective welfare understanding is presented in the article. Eight families raising children with disabilities (one family with a child with cerebral palsy, two families with children with Down syndrome, and five families with children with autism spectrum disorder) took part in the dolphin-human welfare research. The research was carried out using a research strategy of triangulation applying different methods. The research was carried out using Portable Eye tracking system (SMI REDnScientific), Facial expression recognition software (Noldus Facereader 6.1), Event logging software for observational data collection, analysis and presentation with physiological data synchronization capabilities (Noldus Observer XT 12.5), qualitative telephone interview a week before the session of dolphin assisted therapy, open form for evaluation of the results of dolphin assisted therapy in a child one month later after the participation in DAT. The results brought to the light that the families were mostly happy when watching their children; families raising children with severe disability were most satisfied with the dolphin assisted therapy; the subjectively perceived welfare of dolphins was understood as a possibility to choose a child for communication; also, if the therapy goals were measurable, the more satisfying results were reflected by parents after a month after the dolphin assisted therapy program.</p>

The Effect of Therapeutic Activities With Dolphins for Balance, Gait and Quality of Life in Patients After Hemorrhagic Stroke: Case Analysis

“…Namely majority of the research works have been conducted at the Center of Dolphin Assisted Therapy of Lithuanian Sea Museum, while analyzing reaction of children with the autism disorder to dolphin assisted therapy seeking to improve the quality of life and other aspects. Results of the conducted research allow us assume that dolphin assisted therapy improves person's independence, integration into society, forms self-confidence, helps to better focus attention and makes them even calmer; the psychomotor functions improve as well [12][13][14][15]18]. This research reveals that aquatic dolphin assisted therapeutic activities can be successfully applied to persons after the hemorrhagic stroke; however, when aiming at better outcomes, likely, continuous therapeutic activities or continuity of dolphin assisted activities are necessary.…”

“…In Lithuania, dolphin assisted therapy is included into the package of complementary alternative medical methods [10] and is being implemented in compliance with three directions of the effect: psycho-emotional, sensory and motor [9]. Since 2001 being implemented in Lithuania, dolphin assisted therapy has been extensively investigated because of its impact on the social network [11][12][13], internal coherence [14], psycho-emotional change [15][16][17], psycho-social aspects [18], wellbeing [13], its long-term effect [17,18] and other parameters have been measured [1,2,5,7,10,11]. All these scientific research studies were focused on investigation of children with disability and the effect of the immediate environment.…”