title: The effect of a therapy dog on the communication skills of an adult with aphasia.
abstract: Little evidence-based research has been published within the field of communication disorders on the role of dogs as catalysts for human communication. This single participant study, a point of entry into this realm of research, explores the effects of a therapy dog on the communication skills of a patient with aphasia receiving intensive speech and language therapy within a rehabilitation setting. The researchers conclude that the presence of the dog does have the potential to stimulate both overt social-verbal and social-nonverbal communication.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  As a result of this activity the reader will be able to (1) describe the beneficial role of dogs to serve as catalysts for human communication (2) describe ways in which a person with aphasia may be assisted by a therapy dog and (3) become familiar with an animal-assisted therapy (AAT) program set-up for patients with communication disorders within a rehabilitation setting.
authors.affiliation: Commission Scolaire Des Bois-Francs, Victoriaville, Que., Canada.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: LaFrance
authors.forename: Linda J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Julianne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Labreche
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D000818:Animals; D001039:Aphasia, Broca / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003145:Communication Methods, Total; D004285:Dogs / Q000523:psychology*; D001841:Human-Animal Bond; D006801:Humans; D007808:Language Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012919:Social Behavior; D013070:Speech Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D014705:Verbal Behavior