School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Queensland Aphasia Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Int J Lang Commun Disord. 2024 Nov-Dec;59(6):2858-2877. doi: 10.1111/1460-6984.13119. Epub 2024 Oct 3.
There is increasing interest in the incorporation of animal-assisted services (AAS) in therapy for adults with acquired neurogenic communication disorders. AAS have the potential to enhance speech and language therapy engagement and outcomes. However, a greater understanding of the nature and potential benefits of these interventions is needed.
To describe the existing evidence for the incorporation of AAS in therapy with adults with acquired neurogenic communication disorders and to identify areas for future research.
METHODS & PROCEDURES: A scoping review was conducted and reported in alignment with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses checklist extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Seven databases (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane, Scopus, Web of Science) and grey literature (Google) were searched. Two reviewers independently screened titles, abstracts and full texts against eligibility criteria using Covidence software. The Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklist guided extraction of intervention data.
A total of 17 studies with adults with aphasia, apraxia of speech and cognitive-communication disorders were included. While terminology varied, most interventions met the definition of animal-assisted therapy or animal-assisted activity and used therapy dogs. Across studies, a range of outcomes were targeted, and positive benefits were reported for participant mood, emotions, motivation and satisfaction. There were mixed, but mostly positive, benefits on social behaviour, communication and participation.
CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS: AAS has been incorporated in therapy for adults with acquired neurogenic communication disorders, predominately with people with dementia. Across studies, communication impairments and AAS interventions were insufficiently or inconsistently described. Improved reporting would assist understanding of the potential benefits of AAS as an adjunct therapy. A quality appraisal of existing studies, and meta-analysis of findings, is needed to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of AAS as a complementary therapy for people with acquired neurogenic communication disorders.
What is already known on this subject There is increasing interest and research in AAS as an adjunct to traditional speech and language therapy. Several clinical populations have been shown to benefit from the incorporation of AAS as a complementary therapy approach, including adults with acquired neurogenic communication disorders. To date there has not been a comprehensive review of literature in the area. What this paper adds to the existing knowledge This review aimed to describe what is known about AAS as an adjunct intervention for adults with acquired neurogenic communication disorders. A total of 17 studies were identified, the majority conducted with people living with dementia. Overall, consistent positive benefits of AAS were reported on participant mood, positive emotions, motivation, and satisfaction. There were mixed, but mostly positive, benefits of AAS on social behaviour, including both verbal and non-verbal communication outcomes, and participation. What are the practical and clinical implications of this work? These results suggest a potential therapeutic benefit for the inclusion of AAS into traditional modalities used by speech-language therapists with people with acquired neurogenic communication disorders. However, clinicians should view these findings with caution. Studies were often insufficiently or inconsistently reported, and a quality appraisal and meta-analysis of existing studies would be needed to draw clear conclusions on the effectiveness of AAS as a complementary approach for people with acquired neurogenic communication disorders.
人们对将动物辅助服务（AAS）纳入成人获得性神经源性语言障碍治疗中越来越感兴趣。AAS 有可能增强言语和语言治疗的参与度和效果。然而，我们需要更深入地了解这些干预措施的性质和潜在益处。
描述将 AAS 纳入成人获得性神经源性语言障碍治疗中的现有证据，并确定未来研究的方向。
我们进行了一项范围综述，并按照系统评价和荟萃分析扩展的首选报告项目清单（PRISMA-ScR）进行了报告。我们在七个数据库（PubMed、Embase、CINAHL、PsycINFO、Cochrane、Scopus 和 Web of Science）和灰色文献（Google）中进行了搜索。两名评审员使用 Covidence 软件独立筛选标题、摘要和全文，以确定其是否符合入选标准。干预措施数据的提取遵循干预描述和复制模板（TIDieR）清单。
共有 17 项针对成人失语症、言语失用症和认知-沟通障碍患者的研究被纳入。尽管术语有所不同，但大多数干预措施都符合动物辅助治疗或动物辅助活动的定义，并使用了治疗犬。在这些研究中，针对各种结果进行了干预，报告了参与者情绪、情感、动机和满意度的积极益处。社交行为、沟通和参与方面的益处则较为混杂，但大多是积极的。
AAS 已被纳入成人获得性神经源性语言障碍治疗中，主要针对痴呆患者。在各项研究中，沟通障碍和 AAS 干预措施的描述都不够充分或不一致。提高报告质量将有助于理解 AAS 作为辅助治疗的潜在益处。需要对现有研究进行质量评估，并对研究结果进行荟萃分析，以便就 AAS 作为成人获得性神经源性语言障碍补充治疗的有效性得出结论。
关于这个主题，目前已经知道了什么：人们对 AAS 作为传统言语和语言治疗的辅助手段越来越感兴趣，并进行了更多的研究。一些临床人群已经从 AAS 作为补充治疗方法的应用中受益，包括成人获得性神经源性语言障碍患者。到目前为止，该领域还没有全面的文献综述。本文在现有知识的基础上增加了哪些内容：本综述旨在描述 AAS 作为成人获得性神经源性语言障碍辅助治疗的已知内容。共确定了 17 项研究，其中大多数是针对痴呆患者进行的。总体而言，AAS 的一致积极益处包括参与者的情绪、积极的情绪、动机和满意度。AAS 对社交行为（包括言语和非言语沟通结果）和参与度的积极影响较为混杂，但大多是积极的。
这对实践和临床有什么意义？这些结果表明，在为成人获得性神经源性语言障碍患者提供言语语言治疗师使用的传统治疗方法时，纳入 AAS 可能具有潜在的治疗益处。然而，临床医生应该谨慎看待这些发现。研究往往报告得不够充分或不一致，需要对现有研究进行质量评估和荟萃分析，才能就 AAS 作为成人获得性神经源性语言障碍补充治疗方法的有效性得出明确的结论。
