Sensory Rooms

Sensory Rooms

What are sensory rooms? 

Sensory rooms are carefully designed environments that provide users with a range of sensory experiences in a safe and relaxed way.  They allow users to explore touch, sight, taste, smell, hearing, balance, movement, and internal/external body awareness all at their own pace.

Who are sensory rooms for and what are the benefits? 

Autistic people often struggle with sensory processing and can be either too sensitive or not sensitive enough to a stimulus. As a result, they may find sensory stimuli to be upsetting which can lead to anxiety and agitation.

Children have the advantage of having highly adaptable brains.  As they learn and experience new information, the parts of their brains that process those new experiences become more developed. Sensory rooms take advantage of this concept by giving children lots of sensory stimuli to experience.

Autistic teenagers and adults also benefit from sensory rooms by reducing repetitive (ex. Taking the exact same route to school) and stereotyped behaviors (ex. Hand flapping and toe walking). These sensory room experiences are thought to help train their brains and bodies to work together better, which can make everyday environments easier to navigate.

What are examples of hyper- and hypo-sensitivities? 

Hypersensitivity: OVER-respond to a stimulus.  As a result of a hypersensitivity, your child may avoid a triggering stimulus.

Hyposensitivity: UNDER-respond to a stimulus.  As a result of a hyposensitivity, your child may seek out sensory stimulation.

As some examples, people with hyper- or hyposensitivities, might have the following responses to sound, touch, and/or sight stimuli:

How do sensory rooms help?

Though sensory rooms are a relatively new tool for treating autistic people, the research that has been done so far suggests that sensory rooms can help their users by:

• Helping them overcome fears and anxiety surrounding sensory stimuli
• Improve their concentration, ability to relax, and communication skills
• Decreasing repetitive behaviors while in the room
• Promoting learning and play
• Treating behavioral issues, such as aggression
• Improving movement, balance, and spatial orientation

What should you expect from a sensory room? 

The key to a sensory room is it is a self-directed environment that people can explore at their own pace.

Things you may find based on each sense:

Examples of objects you may find in a sensory room include:

• Bubble tube
• Ball pit
• Swing
• Projections
• Vibroacoustic seats

Experiences your child may have:

• Touching an object generates a certain sound
• Touching a wall produces a vibration
• A wall changes the projection as the child moves
• Listening to soothing music

Example of a sensory room: https://youtu.be/WykekQCghgo 

Example of a sensory room through a school: https://youtu.be/T9j6rQ4rtQY

The history of sensory rooms 

• Sensory rooms, also known as Snoezelen rooms, were created in the 1970s by two developmental disability therapists.
• They believed  that because individuals with learning disabilities are less likely to explore new sensory experiences, they will experience negative effects of sensory deprivation, such as negative emotions and behaviors.
• Their goal was to create rooms with a non-threatening environment that people with intellectual disabilities could explore independently for their own enjoyment and relaxation.
• The term “Snoezelen” was chosen later, and is actually a mix of two Dutch words:
  • “Snuffelen”: to explore one’s environment
  • “Doezelen”: to relax
• This concept has been translated to create the sensory rooms we use today.
• It has expanded to countries around the world and for various conditions, such as dementia.

How to find a sensory room for your child 

Although resources vary in different states and cities, here are some places you can contact to find a sensory room for your child with autism:

1. School: Special education teachers
2. Therapy center: Applied behavior analysis (ABA) centers
3. Local autism organizations
4. Healthcare professionals, such as occupational therapists
5. Local ADA clinic

Savannah Sensory-friendly Resources: https://www.ablekids.com/savannah-resources

Research on sensory rooms 

While existing research on sensory rooms is promising for individuals with autism, further studies should be done to increase the understanding of the development and long-term effects of the rooms.

Article by: Avery Meeks and The Autism ToolKit

Sources 

The use of Multi-Sensory Environments with autistic children: Exploring the effect of having control of sensory changes

Multi-sensory interactive interior design for enhancing skills in children with autism

Effects of Snoezelen—Multisensory environment on CARS scale in adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder

Sensory Spaces in Schools

In Our Own Words: The Complex Sensory Experiences of Autistic Adults

Snoezelen for dementia