Dolphin therapy

Dolphin therapy is believed by many to have a positive benefit to people with with many different conditions including neurological disorders, autism, cerebral palsy, down's syndrome, global developmental delay and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It has also been reported to help with pain relief for spinal injuries, muscular paralysis and depression. However, it is important to remember that there is little research to support these claims.

Dolphin therapy doesn’t claim to be, and isn’t, a clinical cure for cerebral palsy and other impairments although many parents report improvements in their children after undertaking swimming with dolphins. Further research is on-going but there is currently little scientific evidence of lasting benefits.

Conservation organisations have concerns about the impact on the dolphins used in therapy programmes. Dolphin therapy is comparatively expensive and not currently funded via any UK statutory agencies.

For further information

The Henry Spink Foundation have a factsheet on Dolphin Therapy – www.henryspink.org

For further information about Whales and Dolphins in general - The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society – www.wdcs.org