Fetching connections: Dog walking as an adjunct to traditional speech therapy.
Tracks
4
Acquired brain injury/traumatic brain injury (ABI/TBI)
Adult
Aphasia
Dementia
Dysarthria
Motor speech
Neuro-developmental disability
Pragmatic language
Social communication
Speech
Therapy
| Saturday, June 14, 2025 |
| 2:45 PM - 2:55 PM |
Overview
Jan Mackey
Details
⏫ In-practice
⏲️ 2.45pm - 3.05pm
⌛ 20-minutes
📚 Assumed knowledge of attendees: Foundational (new/casual familiarity with the topic e.g. treated a single case)
⏲️ 2.45pm - 3.05pm
⌛ 20-minutes
📚 Assumed knowledge of attendees: Foundational (new/casual familiarity with the topic e.g. treated a single case)
Presenter
Ms Jan Mackey
Applied Communication Skills
Fetching connections: Dog walking as an adjunct to traditional speech therapy.
2:45 PM - 3:05 PMPresentation summary
The loss of the ability to communicate as part of an acquired disability is very isolating and leads to reduced incidental engagement with others in the community. ‘Fetching Connections’ is a pilot program to be based in a community speech pathology setting, supporting adults with a range of communication challenges and modes of communication. The program aims to evaluate the effectiveness of integrating dog walking in the local community with traditional speech pathology practices.
There is mounting evidence that therapy dogs are a successful adjunct to making connections with others in the community. It has been found the support of a dog fosters conversational engagement. Members of the community are more welcoming with the presence of a dog and engage with personal connections such as individuals being recognised and known by name in their local community. Despite promising initial evidence, clinical experience is that many individuals with communication impairments cannot afford or care for a dog. Should this evaluation indicate positive outcomes of the ‘Fetching Connections’ Programme, future research will then focus on creating links between clients with communication difficulties and local dog owners; facilitating a weekly ‘walk and talk’ in the local community.
There is mounting evidence that therapy dogs are a successful adjunct to making connections with others in the community. It has been found the support of a dog fosters conversational engagement. Members of the community are more welcoming with the presence of a dog and engage with personal connections such as individuals being recognised and known by name in their local community. Despite promising initial evidence, clinical experience is that many individuals with communication impairments cannot afford or care for a dog. Should this evaluation indicate positive outcomes of the ‘Fetching Connections’ Programme, future research will then focus on creating links between clients with communication difficulties and local dog owners; facilitating a weekly ‘walk and talk’ in the local community.
Refrences
Adams, D. L. (1997). Animal-Assisted Enhancement of Speech therapy: a case study. Anthrozoös, 10(1), 53–56. https://doi.org/10.2752/089279397787001283
Anderson, H., Hayes, S., & Smith, J. (2019). Animal Assisted Therapy in Pediatric Speech-Language Therapy with a Preschool Child with Severe Language Delay: A Single-Subject Design. Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice. https://doi.org/10.46743/1540-580x/2019.1770
Bould, E., Callaway, L., Warren, N., Lalor, A., & Burke, J. (2022). Pilot of a dog-walking program to foster and support community inclusion for people with cognitive disabilities. Disability and Rehabilitation, 45(3), 469–482. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2022.2034993
Bould, E., Bigby, C., Bennett, P. C., & Howell, T. J. (2018). ‘More people talk to you when you have a dog’ – dogs as catalysts for social inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 62(10), 833–841. https://doi.org/10.1111/jir.12538
Hill, J., Ziviani, J., Driscoll, C., & Cawdell-Smith, J. (2018). Can Canine-Assisted Interventions Affect the Social Behaviours of Children on the Autism Spectrum? A Systematic Review. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 6(1), 13–25. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40489-018-0151-7
Howe, T. J., Worrall, L. E., & Hickson, L. M. H. (2008). Interviews with people with aphasia: Environmental factors that influence their community participation. Aphasiology, 22(10), 1092–1120. https://doi.org/10.1080/02687030701640941
Nyström, M. (2006). Aphasia - an existential loneliness: A study on the loss of the world of symbols. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.3402/qhw.v1i1.4907
Page, A. D., & Yorkston, K. M. (2022). Communicative Participation in Dysarthria: Perspectives for Management. Brain Sciences, 12(4), 420. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12040420
Simmons-Mackie, N., Kagan, A., Victor, J. C., Carling-Rowland, A., Mok, A., Hoch, J. S., Huijbregts, M., & Streiner, D. L. (2014). The assessment for living with aphasia: Reliability and construct validity. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 16(1), 82–94. https://doi.org/10.3109/17549507.2013.831484
Youmans, G., Youmans, S. R., & Hancock, A. B. (2011). Script Training Treatment for Adults With Apraxia of Speech. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 20(1), 23–37. https://doi.org/10.1044/1058-0360(2010/09-0085M
Anderson, H., Hayes, S., & Smith, J. (2019). Animal Assisted Therapy in Pediatric Speech-Language Therapy with a Preschool Child with Severe Language Delay: A Single-Subject Design. Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice. https://doi.org/10.46743/1540-580x/2019.1770
Bould, E., Callaway, L., Warren, N., Lalor, A., & Burke, J. (2022). Pilot of a dog-walking program to foster and support community inclusion for people with cognitive disabilities. Disability and Rehabilitation, 45(3), 469–482. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2022.2034993
Bould, E., Bigby, C., Bennett, P. C., & Howell, T. J. (2018). ‘More people talk to you when you have a dog’ – dogs as catalysts for social inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 62(10), 833–841. https://doi.org/10.1111/jir.12538
Hill, J., Ziviani, J., Driscoll, C., & Cawdell-Smith, J. (2018). Can Canine-Assisted Interventions Affect the Social Behaviours of Children on the Autism Spectrum? A Systematic Review. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 6(1), 13–25. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40489-018-0151-7
Howe, T. J., Worrall, L. E., & Hickson, L. M. H. (2008). Interviews with people with aphasia: Environmental factors that influence their community participation. Aphasiology, 22(10), 1092–1120. https://doi.org/10.1080/02687030701640941
Nyström, M. (2006). Aphasia - an existential loneliness: A study on the loss of the world of symbols. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.3402/qhw.v1i1.4907
Page, A. D., & Yorkston, K. M. (2022). Communicative Participation in Dysarthria: Perspectives for Management. Brain Sciences, 12(4), 420. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12040420
Simmons-Mackie, N., Kagan, A., Victor, J. C., Carling-Rowland, A., Mok, A., Hoch, J. S., Huijbregts, M., & Streiner, D. L. (2014). The assessment for living with aphasia: Reliability and construct validity. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 16(1), 82–94. https://doi.org/10.3109/17549507.2013.831484
Youmans, G., Youmans, S. R., & Hancock, A. B. (2011). Script Training Treatment for Adults With Apraxia of Speech. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 20(1), 23–37. https://doi.org/10.1044/1058-0360(2010/09-0085M
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Jan Mackey is the director and principal Speech Pathologist at Applied Communication Skills, specialising in interdisciplinary, community based rehabilitation for the management of communication disorders in community settings. Jan has co-authored communication resources that are widely used throughout Australia and the UK. Jan has maintained participation in clinic-based research and has an ongoing interest in the development and implementation of practical resources for language and social communication, combining the theoretical and practical elements of the skills that underpin successful communication. Jan has contributed to the development of online training materials for therapists, support workers and families, including My Support Space, My Allied Health Space and My Technology Space.
Session chair
Asta Fung
Charles Sturt University
The information contained in this program is current at of the time of publishing but is subject to changes made without notice.
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