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The therapy of children with a disability is mostly complex and interdisciplinary. Due to occurring stagnations, affected parents also use alternative options to support their child, like animal-assisted therapy. In the context of children with a disability dolphin-assisted therapy (DT) is often cited. The present paper describes that form of therapy. Theories and studies about the effectiveness are reported. Finally a case report about a girl with succinic-semialdehyde-dehydrogenase-deficiency (SSADHD) and her linguistic abilities before and after a DT is presented. During the data acquisition, a triangulation of methods (parent-interviews, questionnaires, tests) as well as hospitations in the DT-sessions were performed. The post-testing showed effects in speech comprehension and participation in daily life. Because their promotion was not explicitly part of the DT, it remains unclear, to what the effects can be traced. The results are critically discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]