A Day in the Life of a Speech Therapy Dog: How Delta Spends Her Time at a Pediatric Speech and Language Therapy Clinic
The giggle was infectious. It was such a simple game, sorting items pulled from Ned’s Head into pink and purple piles, but somehow the idea that therapy dog Delta wanted the purple items next to her had tickled Bristol’s funny bone. Working diligently to produce a /k/ at the end of “pink” as Delta patiently rested alongside her, a pile of purple items between her paws, I couldn’t help but marvel at how much value Delta’s simple presence was bringing to this moment, and for this session all she had to do was lie there…
Bristol gives items to therapy dog Delta as part of an animal-assisted speech therapy activity. To see a video clip of this animal-assisted therapy activity, click here.
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Action and Relaxation: dual speech therapy dog “superpowers”
Delta’s presence in speech therapy sessions varies a lot from session to session and even from moment to moment as I see different children across a day. When planning a session I generally think about whether I most need her to be an active presence (i.e., doing a specific task) or a passive presence (i.e., just relaxing nearby) to improve the outcomes of an activity. Active presence includes things like:
· Performing a trick that incorporates a target sound
· Participating as a character in a skit to act out a concept
· Providing sensory input by allowing petting or sitting close enough for a child to lean on
· Taking sensory-friendly treats that have been used as a token system to increase a child’s repetitions
· Performing some high energy interactive play to help a sleepy child become more alert, such as running through a tunnel or chasing a toy that bounces unpredictably
This active presence can:
· Encourage a child to spend more time in an activity, increasing practice repetitions, and
· make the activity more memorable by adding a novel and joy-inducing component
A relaxing speech therapy dog is still an impactful speech therapy dog
Believe it or not, active participation makes up only about 10-20% of Delta’s typical day.
About half of the kids I see are naturally motivated by animals, so with the other kids she gets a chance to nap on her extra-comfy bed. These breaks are important for her welfare and to keep her fresh for when her interactions are most helpful.
Even when helping actively, I try to get kids to practice a targeted skill several times before then applying it to an interaction with the dog, allowing her down time throughout a session. This can be a great tool when needing to add motivation if a child is resistant toward or anxious about practice.
Delta’s passive presence is a larger portion of her day and consists of her lying in the speech therapy room with no specific expectation. It may not be obvious, but this is often when she is most impactful on a session.
Children who are anxious or upset can be cued to watch Delta and try to time their breathing to hers to calm down.
If I sense a child is getting frustrated I can interrupt his or her thought pattern by drawing attention to something silly about Delta to add humor and hopefully return to a better learning state (e.g., “Uh oh, Delta is snoring. Listen.”).
Or I can incorporate her as a neutral third party to encourage expected behaviors without causing a power struggle, such as asking a child to use a quieter voice so as not to hurt Delta’s ears.
Click here for video clips depicting active presence and passive presence from actual animal-assisted speech therapy sessions.
Therapy dog Delta calmly lies next to a child during animal-assisted speech therapy.
Mixed roles
Many times, Delta relaxes for periods of a session while a child works to earn a chance to give her treats or take her for a walk, at which point she switches over to actively participating. She also often chooses to approach a child on her own, a form of affiliative behavior, rewarding a child’s calm and focused efforts with nudges or resting her head on a lap.
Therapy dogs during an SLP’s planning and break time
And last but not least, a therapy dog can be beneficial for the clinician as well. Between sessions and during planning times Delta helps me:
· remember to take frequent movement breaks to take her outside
· calm and refocus my own breathing after a challenging session
· bring mindfulness to my work as I observe her relaxing or playing joyfully
Therapy dogs have a tough job, adjusting throughout the day as kids arrive with different moods, energy levels, and abilities. I’m always grateful when Delta can be present for a work day, whether she’s participating actively, helping out while just relaxing, or reminding me to take a moment for self-care.
If you’re interested in learning more about how SLPs can partner with a therapy dog, follow on Instagram @Speech_Dogs check the Animal-Assisted Speech Therapy Resources page for more video clips of animal assisted activities, links to educational organizations, and helpful product suggestions.
Check back for how to get your copy of Paws for Progress: Integrating Animal-Assisted Interventions Into Your Speech-Language Pathology Practice, coming from ASHA Press in Fall ‘24.
May your days be filled with puppy wiggles and children’s giggles,
Sharlet
