Speech-Language Pathology Incorporating Horses.

The research article explores the effectiveness of incorporating horses into speech-language pathology as a treatment strategy to assist clients in achieving their communication or swallowing goals.

Understanding the Role of Horses in Speech-Language Pathology

• The paper initially delves into the history of using horses in the field of rehabilitation and provides definitions of related terminologies. Equine-assisted therapies, which include horse-related activities for the purpose of physical, occupational, and speech-language therapies, have been long acknowledged as therapeutic interventions.
• It presents theories explaining the reasons behind the effectiveness of this treatment approach. One of the primary proposed theories indicates that the unique movement patterns of horses can facilitate physical and neurological reactions in clients that can develop into improved motor and sensory responses.

Clinical Applications

• The paper elaborately discusses how the inclusion of horses can be practically applied into the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (ASHA) nine areas of practice: fluency, voice, cognitive-communication, social communication, communication modalities, speech sound production, language, swallowing, and auditory habilitation/rehabilitation.
• Through a compilation of clinical reports, it is evident that the use of horses in therapy sessions can lead to improvements in various areas. For swallowing disorders, it is suggested that the rhythm and symmetry of horse movement provide external pacing and facilitatory rhythmic auditory stimulation that aids in more coordinated and efficient swallowing.
• For speech sound production, the authors state that the horse’s movement prompts the clients to engage their diaphragm, encouraging them to project their voice more efficiently, thus improving their speech patterns. In terms of language, the horse can serve as a motivational tool for the clients to express their thoughts and emotions, thereby enriching their vocabulary and narrative skills.

These insights from the study highlight the potential and efficacy of equine-assisted therapy as a treatment approach within the realm of speech-language pathology. It emphasizes on the need to further explore and optimize this therapeutic intervention to aid individuals with communication or swallowing disorders.