Ability

Dolphins Help Mute Boy to Speak

In what sounds like the scenario for a Hollywood film, an eight-year-old boy has spoken his first words after swimming with dolphins.

Starved of oxygen at birth, Nikki Brice, from Somerset, England, has always had the physical ability to speak, but he has never learned to use it. Having tried various speech therapists with no success, the boy's family raised £10,500 to take him to the Human Dolphin Therapy Centre in Miami, Florida. Within days of being at the centre, where youngsters swim with the mammals, he had uttered his first few halting words.

"We hadn't been there long when Nikki was told to get out of the water at the end of a dolphin swimming session and he stood very quietly at the side of the tank," said his mother, Tabitha.

"I think he thought he wouldn't be allowed to swim with the dolphins again because he suddenly pointed at the water and said, "In".

"We all just stood there in shock because it was so unexpected, but once we got over it we quickly told him that he could go in again and he soon cheered up."

Nikki is now being coached how to use his vocal cords and is picking up other new words, like "please".

Scientists are still undecided as to why dolphins have a healing effect on people suffering from depression or learning difficulties. Some believe the underwater sounds that dolphins make may play a part. Meanwhile, Mrs Brice is overjoyed by the progress Nikki has made. She said, "There is something magical that happens between children and dolphins, something that I don't think we will ever fully understand."