Research on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and topics relating to autism and service animals.
Below is an annotated bibliography and links to papers pertaining to wandering (elopement), factors relating to service dogs and children with autism, and other research concerning ASD. This list will grow with time and is not meant to be comprehensive. We simply wish to provide a starting point in your ongoing search to learn more about autism, and its myriad of forms.
The latest estimate of autism prevalence is 1 in 54 children in the US by age 8, a nearly 10 percent increase over 2014 when the estimate was 1 in 59. This is nearly triple the 1 in 150 figure reported in 2000. The reasons for the increase remain unclear but may include improved diagnosis, expanded classifications, and the fact that many adults in the US are having children later in life (it is a known factor that the chances of having a child with autism increase with the age of the parents at conception). Male children are 4 times more likely to have autism than females. Many experts now agree that delivering therapy to kids with symptoms of autism at age one or two has the potential to result in greater improvements in IQ, social skills, and language development than if therapy were started later.1
Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a complex disorder that affects the developing brain in young children. Its complexity manifests in that no two children diagnosed with autism are alike. The symptoms are diverse and varied, and often include repetitive motor behaviors, social impairments, resistance to environmental change or change in daily routines, unusual responses to sensory experiences, intellectual disability, physical health problems, and/or difficulties in communication. It can range from mild to very severe, and occurs across all ethnic, socio-economic, and age boundaries.
Anderson, C., Law, J.K., Daniels, A., Rice, C., Mandell, D.S., Hagopian, L., and P.A. Law. 2012. Occurrence and family impact of elopement in children with autism spectrum disorders. Pediatrics 130, 870-877. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/130/5/870
Anderson et al. found that 49% of autistic children attempt to elope. 26% were missing long enough to cause concern. Of those that went missing, 65% were in danger of a traffic injury, while another 24% were in danger of drowning. This study was part of the reason we developed Autism Anchoring Dogs.
Burgoyne, L., Dowling, L., Fitzgerald, A., Connolly, M., Browne, J.P., and I.J. Perry. Parents’ perspectives on the value of assistance dogs for children with autism spectrum disorder: a cross-sectional study.
BMJ Open 2014;4:e004786. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2014- 004786.
http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/4/6/e004786.full.pdf+html?sid=c3f842b3-c359-4acc-afa0-3c801240c5f9
This study represents an attempt to quantify the value of having an assistance dog for their child on the spectrum. The findings suggest multiple benefits, including a significant improvement in environmental safety, improved competence in handling their child in public, and a welcome increase in positive public interactions.
Burrows, K. E., Adams, C. L., and S.T. Millman. 2008. Factors affecting behavior and welfare of service dogs for children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 11, 42–62. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18444026
For this paper, the authors set about to determine how the service animal reacted over time if the primary bond was with the autistic child and if the animal did not get adequate respite (i.e. the service dog was on duty non-stop). The implied finding suggested the importance of the service dog having time off each day to simply be a dog. This underscores the importance of providing adequate recovery from stress to maintain the dogs health, both physically and mentally.
Wenthold, N., and T.A. Savage. 2007. Ethical issues with service animals. Topic in Stroke Rehabilitation, 14, 68–74. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17517577
This paper examines the role of the service dog in a rehabilitation health care setting. Consideration is paid to ethical issues, as they relate to managing patient expectations and the workload on the service dog. By managing breaks, and recognizing the needs of the assistance animal, one can ensure it’s continued success in providing a role in the lives of people with disabilities.
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1 Dawson, G., Jones, E. J., Merkle, K., Venema, K., Lowy, R., Faja, S., Kamara, D., Murias, M., Greenson, J., Winter, J., Smith, M., Rogers, S.J., and S.J. Webb. 2012. Early behavioral intervention is associated with normalized brain activity in young children with autism. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry 51, 1150–1159. http://teacch.com/files/esdm-eeg-2012