Autistic Children With Pets Respond Better Socially

A study by the University of Missouri says that autistic children are better socially adjusted if they have a pet at home. Earlier studies have also shown that pets benefit children with this disorder.

"When I compared the social skills of children with autism who lived with dogs to those who did not, the children with dogs appeared to have greater social skills," said Gretchen Carlisle, a research fellow at the Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction at the MU College of Veterinary Medicine. "More significantly, however, the data revealed that children with any kind of pet in the home reported being more likely to engage in behaviors such as introducing themselves, asking for information or responding to other people's questions. These kinds of social skills typically are difficult for kids with autism, but this study showed children's assertiveness was greater if they lived with a pet."

The study observed that pets in homes with autistic children were a kind of ice breaker for the children in social situations. Children with autism were more forthcoming and ready to talk with other others in the presence of  their  pets.

"When children with disabilities take their service dogs out in public, other kids stop and engage," Carlisle said. "Kids with autism don't always readily engage with others, but if there's a pet in the home that the child is bonded with and a visitor starts asking about the pet, the child may be more likely to respond."

The study included 70 families with children with this disorder ranging in ages between eight and 18. Seventy percent of the families had a dog and almost 50 percent had cats. Some had farm animals including rabbits, rodents, reptiles, a spider, and a bird.

The maximum benefit was noticed in children with dogs as pets.  The children's social skills improved over time with the dogs.   The researchers note that not all children respond to dogs and some are happier with quieter pets.

"Kids with autism are highly individual and unique, so some other animals may provide just as much benefit as dogs. Though parents may assume having dogs are best to help their children, my data show greater social skills for children with autism who live in homes with any type of pet, " said Carlisle.

The study,  The Social Skills and Attachment to Dogs of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder  was published in the "Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders."