Chinese autistic children receive dolphin therapy in Sochi, Russia. [PHOTO BY REN QI/WANG YUYUN/CHINA DAILY]

Each dolphin therapy session lasts 25 minutes, comprising five minutes of interactive games, five minutes of the children engaging their hands with the dolphins, five minutes of exercises with feet and legs, and 10 minutes of underwater treatment, said a dolphin therapist who did not want to be identified.

"Children thoroughly touch dolphins using their foreheads, ears, shoulders, necks and bodies, thus enabling the sound waves of dolphins to establish an internal recycling."

It is recommended that autistic children receive such therapy no more than twice every year, the trainer said.

"We don't want the children to have therapy too often because their bodies need time to take in what they have experienced."