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Changes in behaviour and emotions
Published in Marjolein de Vugt, Janet Carter, Understanding Young Onset Dementia, 2021
Joany Millenaar, Marjolein de Vugt
Sensory stimulation, also known as snoezelen, consists of offering sensory stimuli such as light, smells and sound in a soothing, pleasant environment. This shows a short-term beneficial effect on behavioural problems, especially in the advanced stages of dementia. These effects disappear sometime after the session. In reminiscence therapy, the person with dementia is encouraged to recall memories from the past with the help of clues such as photos or objects. In addition to positive effects on cognitive functioning, an improvement in mood is also seen. There are indications that music therapy also positively influences NPS, especially on agitation and aggression. The therapy can consist of listening to or moving to music or making music. Music interventions that take into account individual needs and preferences have been found to be more effective (Strom et al., 2016). But there is still insufficient evidence that the effect will continue in the long term. Various other psychosocial therapies are available that are aimed at the person with dementia, such as psychomotor therapy, aromatherapy and light therapy. These interventions have shown modest positive effects on NPS, but more evidence is needed.
Stimulating sensory and body awareness
Published in Chia Swee Hong, Heidi Rumford, Alex Cole, Sensory Motor Activities for Early Development, 2020
Chia Swee Hong, Heidi Rumford, Alex Cole
Snoezelen® is a multi-sensory environment, first developed by Dutch therapists Hulsegge and Verheul (1970), who aimed to provide a relaxing sensory experience for enjoyment purposes (1970). Most multi-sensory rooms or environments contain one or more of the following pieces of equipment: bubble tubes, music, fibre-optic strands, softly padded walls and floors. They provide a range of sensory motor experiences that are designed to stimulate sight, hearing, touch, smell and movement, with little demand placed on cognitive ability. Haegele and Porretta (2014) undertook a meta-analysis of Snoezelen® in practice. They found that the Snoezelen® environment might have a positive influence as an intervention, but the research design weaknesses (such as the small number of participants) compromised results. They identified some of following benefits: positive effects of the environment on stereotypical behaviours (Hill et al. 2012); increased attention, communication and motivation for learning (Stephenson and Carter 2011; Carter and Stephenson 2012); and relationship building among family members (Sachs and Nasser 2009).
Case studies (2006–2020)
Published in Stephen Verderber, Ben J. Refuerzo, Innovations in Hospice Architecture, 2019
Stephen Verderber, Ben J. Refuerzo
From the residential unit, the surrounding landscape is viewable from wheelchair height, and accessible to bed-confined patients; medical equipment is concealed in the headwalls of rooms which feature bright colors, murals, shelving and storage space. Rooms are single or double occupancy and extend along a single-loaded hallway with views to an outdoor patio/trellis and beyond. Bath/shower units are located in-between patient bedrooms. In the large family room, patients and visitors can socialize, if they so desire. The multipurpose room’s equipment encourages arts and crafts activities, and music. A multi-sensory immersion (Snoezelen) room and a hydrotherapy room offer therapeutic treatment, with consult rooms located nearby. Bright colors characterize interior spaces, accented by ceilings with varied roof pitches. Furnishings throughout are residentialist and adaptable (Figures 6.15.6 through 6.16.9a–b). Ecologically sustainable design features include ground water natural filtration, renewable (passive solar) energy and daylighting design strategies, natural ventilation, and recycled building materials.
Responses to stimuli in the ‘snoezelen’ room in unresponsive wakefulness or in minimally responsive state
Published in Brain Injury, 2022
Hiela Lehrer, Ilil Dayan, Keren Elkayam, Adi Kfir, Uri Bierman, Lilach Front, Amiram Catz, Elena Aidinoff
Snoezelen provides multi-sensory stimulation in a controlled therapeutic environment. It is designed specifically to provide several types of sensory stimulation, such as visual, auditory, touch, smell, and taste, within a cozy room environment. Several studies have demonstrated the effects of Snoezelen sensory stimulation in certain populations (14–16). A study of children recovering from brain injury demonstrated a calming effect of Snoezelen, with a decrease in heart rate and muscle tension at the end of each therapeutic session, and behavioral and cognitive improvement after a series of 10 therapeutic sessions. The lack of a control group in this study, however, did not allow a clear attribution of the long-term improvement to the Snoezelen treatment (14). In patients aged >65 years with severe dementia, Snoezelen stimulation had immediate positive effects on mood and behavior, and was found effective in decreasing heart rate and increasing oxygen saturation (16). In patients with cerebral palsy or traumatic brain injury (TBI), and in healthy controls, a Snoezelen stimulation session was followed by significant slowing of EEG oscillatory activity and decrease of EEG irregularity and complexity (15). In patients in coma, UWS, or MCS, however, there is currently little evidence to support the benefit of sensory stimulation programs, including Snoezelen stimulation, despite the various methods used to increase responsiveness in patients with continuous cognitive disorders by sensory stimulation (17).
Critical review of multisensory integration programs and proposal of a theoretical framework for its combination with neurocognitive training
Published in Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 2022
Joana O. Pinto, Artemisa R. Dores, Bruno Peixoto, Bruno Bastos Vieira de Melo, Fernando Barbosa
MS generally comprises controlled exposure to stimuli targeting multiple senses or specific environments [11,12]. One of the most cited approaches of MS is Snoezelen [13,14]. The main characteristics of Snoezelen include: (a) visual, auditory, and tactile stimulation, either simultaneously or separately; (b) individualized and non-directive approach; and (c) use of non-sequential and non-standardized stimuli [15]. MS has been often applied in the context of pathological aging. A previous systematic review about sensory stimulation programs in dementia found that most of the studies performed MS in patients with moderate-to-severe stages of dementia. The interventions have positive results in mood and behavior, but weakly supported MS effects for sensory improvement in dementia [13]. For this reason, we focused on MI rather than MS.
Modification of the training environment to improve functional performance using blacklight conditions: a case study of a child with autism
Published in International Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 2020
Seyed Alireza Derakhshanrad, Emily Piven
Recently, researchers have shown an increased interest in using the multi-sensory environment of the “Snoezelen” sensory room, as an environmental modification to address behavioral problems by providing a relaxed atmosphere with pleasant, calming surroundings. The Snoezelen multi-sensory environment “incorporates a specialized selection of sensory equipment and materials that can help clients adapt their responses to sensory stimulation and to advance education and therapy goals” (https://www.snoezelen.info/). On this basis, the use of alteration in lighting (i.e. blacklighting) as a kind of visual support is expected to promote engagement (https://www.snoezelen.info). Commercial marketing suggests that the blacklight environment provides a range of appealing, eye-catching, attention-grabbing visual materials and resources with lots of calming effects that provide ideal options for improving visual processing, as well as facilitating functional skills (https://www.sensorytoywarehouse.com), yet this seems to be an unsubstantiated claim of a sales website. In one study, by equipping a windowless room with some materials such as white walls, colored fiber-optic light spray, lighted bubble tubes, under a blacklight condition, some researchers reported a slight tendency for three males with autism to engage in more prosocial behaviors, while in the Snoezelen environment (McKee et al.2007).