Resumo

PINEDA PEREZ, Eloy J. Dolphin therapy in children with Down's syndrome in a special day care center. Rev Cubana Pediatr [online]. 2008, vol.80, n.4, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-3119.

INTRODUCTION: Down's syndrome is still the most common genetic disease by chromosomic alteration in the world and in Cuba. That's why, procedures improving the comprehensive attention to these children, such as dolphin therapy, are searched. The objective of this study was to confirm the knowledge of parents and professors about this therapy, to know the abilities attained by the children and the satisfaction degree of the families. METHODS. A descriptive study on the knowledge and characteristics of dolphin therapy in children with Down's syndrome treated this way from October 2004 on was conducted. Three years later, 18 fathers or mothers and 8 professors were surveyed, and a logopedic and psychometric evaluation was included every 20 weeks, as well as an annual assessment made by the Center of Diagnosis and Guidance. The data obtained were tabulated by simple count and they were expressed in percentages. The ethical principles of respect to the disabled children and to parents' consent were followed . RESULTS. 87.5 % of the professors and 33.4 % of the parents knew about this therapy. All the professors and 77.7 % of the parents recognized new abilities in the children, which were more important for their learning and socialization process. 100 % of the professors and 88 % of the parents wished to incorporate this therapy to special education. CONCLUSIONS: the knowledge of the parents is lower than that of the professors. This therapy propitiates the advance in different areas of psychomotor development and it is an efficient method for stimulating those children with Down's syndrome, since it may contribute to their social integration.

Palavras-chave : Animal assisted therapy; dolphin therapy; Down's syndrome.

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