Have you ever experienced sudden relief from anxiety when greeted by your furry best friend? Raising a pet can bring much more joy to your life. However, turns out, they can also be beneficial for improving ADHD symptoms and helping promote mindfulness.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), is one of the most common mental disorders, especially in children and teens. It is caused by an ongoing pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development. It can lead to the inability to keep focus, excessive movement, and act without thinking or control. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2022 national survey of parents , there are an estimated 7 million (11.4%) U.S. children aged 3-17 years who have been diagnosed with ADHD.
As researchers continue to explore ways to help manage mental health conditions, the abilities of the therapy dogs has drawn their attention. Therapy dogs are specially trained dogs to provide affection, comfort, and support to people in various settings, such as hospitals, schools, nursing homes, etc. Unlike service dogs, trained to help people with disabilities, therapy dogs focus on giving emotional support, reducing anxiety, and enhancing mental health.
Knowing the role of therapeutic dogs, researchers extended their role to more expanded areas, beyond their general emotional support. They can help to form a bond to help individuals build up concentration and self-esteem, which ADHD patients lack. The process of raising and working with a dog can also help children learn to take care of others and feel more responsibilities while doing tasks.
Rather than just a proposed guess, can they really help in reducing some symptoms of ADHD?
University of California, Irvine Health child development specialist, Doctor Sabrina E.B. Schuck, conducted a study where she examined seven cohorts of 12 children that have been diagnosed with ADHD. Moreover, children without any usage of medication for over 5 years. For each cohort, she split the children into a control group and an experimental group. The children in the experimental groups worked with the dogs while the control groups did not. Rather than distract the children, the therapy dogs motivated them to engage in activities and participate in tasks. Following a twelve-week study period, Schuck discovered that children who engaged with the dogs showed increases in their social skills and self-esteem as well as a decrease in inattention. Particularly in comparison to the control group, which did not interact with the dogs.
Through Schuck’s study, dogs can play an important role in supporting children with ADHD by providing emotional and social support. Their presence has not only improved the life of ADHD children by making them feel loved, but also taught them basic skills of socializing and self care both mentally and physically. Although it may not always be the right replacement for medicines, therapy dogs can only be a great support for children to reduce symptoms of ADHD.
