Hippoterápia
története |
Gyógylovagoltatás
területei |
Terápiás lovaglás a
gyakorlatban |
|||
Terápiás lovaglás és
a betegségek |
Terápiás lovaglás
hatása |
Linkek |
|||
email: ildikogal@inbox.com |
|
|
|
|
Learning Disabilities and
Therapeutic Riding
Reprinted from NARHA
Strides magazine, January 1996 (Vol. 2, No. 1)
The term "learning
disabilities" is all embracing; it describes a syndrome, not a specific person
with a specific problem. Individuals with learning disabilities are not
mentally retarded. Learning disabilities are neurologically based disorders and
do not affect a person's intelligence.
The federal government
defines a learning disability as a disorder in one or more of the basic
psychological processes involved in understanding or in using spoken or written
language. The disorder may manifest itself in an imperfect ability to listen,
think, speak, read, write, spell or to do mathematical calculations. Learning
disabilities can include conditions such as perceptual disabilities, brain
injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia and developmental aphasia. Learning
disabilities do not include learning problems that are primarily the result of
visual, hearing or motor disabilities; mental retardation; or environmental,
cultural or economic disadvantage.
Riders may exhibit a
wide range of traits including problems with reading comprehension, spoken
language, writing or reasoning ability. Hyperactivity, inattention and
perceptual coordination problems may also be evident. The most frequently
displayed symptoms are:
ˇ
short
attention span
ˇ
poor
memory
ˇ
difficulty
following directions
ˇ
inadequate
ability to discriminate between and among letters, numerals and sounds
ˇ
poor
reading ability
ˇ
eye-hand
coordination problems
ˇ
difficulties
with sequencing
ˇ
disorganization
ˇ
numerous
other problems that may affect all the sensory systems
(Information provided
by National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities, P.O.
Box 1492, Washington, DC 20013, 1-800-695-0285 and the Learning Disabilities
Association of America, 4156 Library Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15234, (412)
341-1515.)
To effectively serve
individuals with learning disabilities, particularly children, the operating
center instructor or therapist may need to obtain assessments done by the
child's occupational and physical therapists, as well as the educational
assessment and the individualized education plan (IEP) from the child's school.
An assessment by an adapted physical education specialist, if available, is
also helpful. These assessments will not only describe the learning
disabilities, but also the sensory and motor problems, which will permit center
personnel to choose the most appropriate horse, equipment, program focus,
environment and riding session.
Therapeutic riding
professionals and adapted physical education instructors most often address the
associated sensory and motor problems. The horse can be helpful in either
direct treatment sessions with a health professional or in instructional
situations. The horse needs to be symmetrical and rhythmic in his movement. The
sensorimotor input provided by the horse's movement can help the individual's
central nervous system "organize" itself, improving coordination,
body awareness, midline orientation, right-left direction and many other
problems. A therapist may help target the specific sensorimotor problems to
address and help choose horse and equipment; or direct treatment may be needed.
The horse can also help
improve the rider's sensorimotor difficulties and the learning problems by
providing a means of improving awkward movement. It is thought that our early
learning of good movement skills is closely related to our self-concept and
self-confidence. Poor movement and clumsiness makes play difficult. Children
with learning disabilities and motor dysfunction are ostracized by their peers,
made fun of and picked last - or not at all - for group games. Thus, socialization
skills are impaired as well. The horse can act as a great
"equalizer," providing sensorimotor input and opportunities to
practice many skills in a non-threatening way and equally with others.
For more reading, see
"Neurological Rehabilitation," chapter nine, written by Sharon
Cermack and Anne Henderson. This book, edited by D. Umphred, was published in
1985 by CV Mosby.
- Liz Baker, Medical
Committee Chairman
A Review of Relevant Literature
Although most
therapeutic riding centers serve riders with learning disabilities, there
appears to be no published scientific evidence to
document the procedures and/or results of therapeutic riding as a modality to
enhance the learning environment. However, centers have shared these procedures
and successes with each other in written text. (See the following selected
reference list)
The lack of
science-based information regarding therapeutic riding in education programs is
a critical void in efforts to expand therapeutic riding and educate the public
about its effectiveness. Many centers have been successful in attracting riders
from primary and secondary schools, both public and private. Operating centers
associated with school systems should work with appropriate school personnel to
report the results of the therapeutic riding program in peer-reviewed
scientific journals that are read by education professionals. These
publications will become the base of information to which all of us can refer
when discussing opportunities with principals, superintendents and school
boards.
The Research Committee
can help by providing you with forms to get clearance to study human subjects.
We can also help you design your project and analyze the data. Please contact
Research Committee Chairman Warren Evans at 3310 Belmont Circle, College
Station, TX 77845; email address: j-evans@tamu.edu.
References
Bieber, N. 1980.
"The Integration of a Therapeutic Equestrian Program in the Academic
Environment of Children with Physical and Multiple Disabilities." New Perspective
on Our Lives With Companion Animals, 448-459
Daniels, Jane; Freeman,
D.; Houghton, James. 1994. "The Effects of an
Equine Environment on the Behavior of School-Leavers." Eighth
International Therapeutic Riding Congress. Author's address: Ambury Park Centre
for Riding Therapy, P.O. Box 59-141, Mangere Bridge, Auckland, New Zealand.
Douglas, D.N.; Douglas, R.D.; Douglas, D.M. 1976. "Educational
Objectives in Riding." National Center for Therapeutic Riding Horsemanship
Manual, P.O. Box 42501, Washington, DC 20015.
Douglas, R.D. 1982.
"A Role for Therapeutic Riding in Special Education." Therapeutisches
Reiten '82. Kuratorium fur Therapeutishches Reiten, 358-370. Fourth
International Therapeutic Riding Congress. Author's Address: P.O. Box 42501, Washington,
DC 20015.
Gang, M. 1983.
"Heilpadagogisches Reiten Education with Riding." Reinhardt. Munchen;
Basel. Hauser, Gundula. 1994. "Vaulting in Remedial Education and Edu
Kinesthetic." Eighth International Therapeutic Riding Congress. Author's
address: Sonderschule fur Schwerstbehinderte, Kinder Schwarzingergasse 4,
1-1020, Wien, Austria.
Homberg, C.; Zobel, H.; Baum, D. 1982. "Pedological (Educational)
Aspects in Therapeutic Riding. Therapeutishches Reiten '82. 393-398. Kuratorium
fur Therapeutisches Riding. Fourth International Therapeutic Riding Congress.
Author's address: Landesschule fur Korperbehinderte, Melanchthon strasse 11,
5600 Wuppertal 2, FRG.
Kittridge, M.V. 1981 "The Beneficial Use of the Horse for the
Emotionally Impaired and Learning Disabled. NARHA News 9 (1) North American
Riding for the Handicapped Association (Out of Print).
Nedelmann, H. 1967.
"Therapeutishes Reiten Mit Spastisch Gelahmten Kindern"
("Therapeutic Riding With Spastic Children") Das Behinderte Kind. 3.
14-17.
Nedelmann, H. 1966.
"Therapeutishes Reiten Mit Spastisch Gelahmten Kindern"
("Therapeutic Riding With Spastic Children") Reiter-Revue
International. 9 (3) 102-103.
Nelson, Y. 1982.
"Effective use of Horsemanship Courses for Slow Learners."
Therapeutisches Reiten '82 429-434. Kuratorium fur Therapeutisches Reiten.
Fourth International Therapeutic Riding Congress. Author's address: Fortune
Center, Nr. Christ Church, Dorset, England BH23 8EE.
Winter, N.H. 1975. "The Influence of Riding on the Learning
Disabled." The Chronicle of the Horse, 38 (21) 23.
Winter, N.H. 1975 "The Influence of Riding on the Learning
Disabled." NARHA News 3 (2) 5-7. North American Riding for the Handicapped
Association. (Out of print).
NOTE: Some references
include the author's address where it was available. However, these addresses
may not be current. To receive a copy of the article listed, please show the
reference to your local librarian and request an interlibrary loan search. -
Dr. J. Warren Evans, Research Committee Chairman