Autism spectrum disorder describes a range of conditions characterized by various problems in nonverbal communication, social skills, speech, and repetitive behaviors as well as unique differences and strengths. There are various types of autism according to the environmental and genetic influences. The most obvious signs of the disorder appear at around two and three years of age but in some cases, it may be diagnosed as early as eighteen months. At least one in every sixty-eight children in the US has autism. The ratio can then be simplified to one in every forty-two boys and one in every 189 girls experiencing the condition ( Hakonarson et al., 2017) . Each child is unique and the treatment varies according to the environmental and genetic conditions. Autism treatment may involve medicines, behavioral, or both. Studies reveal that children with autism tend to have a special connection with animals. The research paper will evaluate the effect of pet treatment on school children with autism, social skills, and general development.
Identification of Problem
Treating autism is often a comprehensive and intensive undertaking that involves a team of professionals and the entire family. Some of the programs may occur at home while others may take place in the hospital. However, the use of medical treatment always has side effects on the children. Furthermore, some of the children may have some chemical or biological conditions such as sleep disturbances, allergies, gastrointestinal issues, and food intolerances ( Baio et al., 2018) . Also, the child may be too young to take the medication. On the other hand, some of the treatment may be unaffordable to some families and the children may be forced to continue suffering from the condition. Also, the treatment may take up their play and school time. Therefore, autism requires a treatment that is sensitive to the needs of children.
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The Significance of Topic to Nursing
Nursing care for children with autism requires extra compassion and patience. Taking care of children with the condition can be physically and emotionally demanding for nurses. It requires understanding the development of the child and developing an emotional connection with the child. Without proper attention, it may be difficult to get the cooperation and trust of a child with autism disorders ( Ward et al., 2017) . Since one in every sixty-eight children in the US has some kind of the condition or autism, it has become increasingly likely for nurses to encounter children with autistic conditions in the ward or ER. Hence, nurses have a bigger role in controlling the condition. Besides, nurses have to be skilled in the latest strategies for treating the condition. It is essential for all nurses to have a level of patience, preparation, creativity, knowledge, and a sense of humor when dealing with children.
Purpose of the Research
The research will evaluate the effectiveness of pet treatment in treating children with autism disorders. It will evaluate how the strategy can improve the social development of children. It will also explain how the treatment can be used not only in hospitals but also in social areas such as playing fields. In 2016, a story about a barber who was quite patient with a child with autistic disorder went viral ( Ward et al., 2017) . The child was afraid of being touched in various parts of his head and was therefore afraid of the haircut. The barber had to get on the floor to make the child feel comfortable. Autism awareness could have assisted the barber in handling the situation. There are many people who do not know how to manage the condition, pet treatment may be a breakthrough for many children with the condition. The earlier a child can learn to deal with the condition, the higher the chances of the child to thrive as an adult.
Research Questions
How effective is the pet treatment of children with autism disorder?
What is the impact of pet treatment on the social development of a child with autism disorder?
How affordable is the pet treatment?
How do the parents decide the best pet for a child with autism?
What is the role of nurses in the pet treatment?
Is pet treatment sufficient in treating autism in children?
Can pet treatment be used with other behavioral and medicinal treatment of autism?
What is the effect of pet treatment on the emotional development of a child?
Can pet treatment be used to treat other conditions such as PTSD?
How will the pet treatment address concerns of animal researchers who believe that the animals may be mistreated during the process?
Importance of the Research
Autism research lags behind other forms of research on other psychiatric medical conditions and disorders. Therefore, there is a lot of catching up on the topic because autism is increasingly becoming a common issue in the country. Furthermore, there is a lot of misconception regarding autism disorders in children. Although there are many forms of behavioral and medical treatment of the condition, there is a lot that should be done. Early intervention using pet treatment will not only improve their social and emotional development, it can also boost the children’s brain function. The earlier the diagnosis of the condition, the better the odds of cognitive improvement. Also, medical treatment of autistic disorders in children has been notoriously unsuccessful ( Baio et al., 2018) . Therefore behavioral treatment and pet therapy may offer more successful and favorable outcomes than medical treatment. Children with the condition often have poor social skills and the treatment may offer them a good chance of living normal lives.
References
Baio, J., Wiggins, L., Christensen, D. L., Maenner, M. J., Daniels, J., Warren, Z., ... & Durkin, M. S. (2018). Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 8 Years—Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 Sites, United States, 2014: MMWR Surveillance Summaries , 67 (6), 1.
Hakonarson, H., Glessner, J., Bradfield, J., Grant, S., Zhang, H., & Wang, K. (2017). U.S. Patent No. 9,783,851 . Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Hollander, E. (2017). U.S. Patent No. 9,662,371 . Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Ward, A., Arola, N., Bohnert, A., & Lieb, R. (2017). Social-emotional adjustment and pet ownership among adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: Journal of communication disorders , 65 , 35-42.
