Autism Therapy: multisensory environments

definition of multisensory environments: Also known as snoezelen. These are special rooms that bring together equipment in one place in order to stimulate the senses in a controlled setting. Planned stimulation of the senses may be helpful for sensory integration issues and for people with autism. The multisensory environment may be a dedicated room where equipment and other items are designed to stimulate the senses (sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste). Sensory rooms may be used in sensory integration therapy.

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Snoezelen Multi-Sensory Environments: Task Engagement and Generalization
Res. Devol. Disabil., by Kaplan, H., Clopton M., Kaplan M., Messbauer L., and McPherson K., published in 2007, summarized Feb 13, 2008

Adults with autism showed improvement in certain behaviors after Snoezelen occupation therapy (OT) sessions.

Snoezelen OT is a form of therapy that gives controlled sensory input (e.g., sights, sounds, etc.) during therapy to help people with autism better deal with sensory input. Three adults with autism, intellectual disability, and severe challenging behaviors were tested in this study. They received Snoezelen an average of twice per week. Two of the three adults showed improvements in certain behaviors (interest in a task and challenging behaviors) that continued between therapy sessions, and one did not show improvement during or after therapy. The authors stated that this study was the first study to show that when there were improvements, they lasted for a few days after each therapy session ended.


Early Experience Determines How the Senses Will Interact
Neurophysiol. (Epub ahead of print), by Wallace, MT, and Stein BE, published in 2006, summarized Sep 25, 2006

This research article demonstrates that the ability to synthesize multisensory information develops gradually over time and requires a great deal of sensory experience.

The different senses have evolved to work together to exponentially contribute information about one's environment. Earlier research suggested that the development of sensory integration requires multisensory experiences that are close in time and/or space. This research article describes an experiment with animals that advanced the scientific understanding of the biological process of multisensory integration. The authors found that multisensory integration occurs early in life as a direct result of encounters with specific environmental features. For example, a cat learns to integrate the sound of a scurrying animal with glimpses of a scurrying animal so that the cat is quickly able to find the scurrying animal. If the environment is dramatically changed during this window of development, which is presumable during the first few years of human life, then the neurological patterns of sensory integration are also dramatically changed. These results would suggest that children should be exposed to a very rich sensory environment from a very young age.


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Ohio School District Opens Autism Resource and Education Facility

Sep 19, 2011

Mentor Public School District will soon open the Cardinal Autism Resource and Education School (CARES) in Northern Ohio. This facility, serving between 12 and 42 kids with autism, will cover educational, sensory, and life skills. CARES hopes students may return to a mainstream classroom or graduate with the ability to obtain a job or further schooling. The facility has been retrofitted specifically for children with sensory issues. CARES director, Christy LaPaglia explains, “The building will be equipped with new lighting, acoustic panels in classrooms, odorless carpet and paint.” One unique feature of CARES is the observation area where parents and other educators can watch and listen to what is happening in the classroom. CARES hopes this will assist in useful feedback for the children as well as the teachers. The center consists of seven classrooms, the observation rooms, parent resource area, gym, and sensory rooms.

Read original article: Mentor Schools' Autism Center Set to Open October 3rd


Sensational Kids Designed to Make Occupational Therapy Affordable and Fun

Aug 19, 2011

Sensational Kids in County Kildare Ireland is the brainchild of a mom with a child with special needs. Karen Leigh first discovered occupational therapy (OT) in the U.S. with her son. She was told to continue the OT when she got back to Ireland, but was forced to commute and pay high prices. She founded Sensational Kids for children with special needs, autism, and those who need a place to go for their sensory issues. The center has OTs, psychologists, speech and language therapists, and a reading teacher. The space includes a gym, a sensory room, and workspace where a child can learn to cook or ride a bike. Sensational Kids is doing outreach therapy in schools, designing at-home programs so parents need not commute, and is looking to spread beyond Kildare.

Read original article: Playtime with a Big Difference


Oasis is Only School for Autism in Pakistan

Apr 5, 2011

Can you imagine only one school equipped to handle your child with autism in the entire state or country? Oasis School is the only school for children with autism in Pakistan. Oasis was started by Samrina Anwar, now the principal of the school, who began slowly with workshops on communicating with children with autism. She brought in specialists from Ireland and England, and now the school provides treatment and therapy with 13 teachers to 9 children. Only two of the children are verbal and all receive speech therapy. The school building and classrooms have been specially equipped for the children with minimal furnishings to avoid distractions, a bathroom and kitchen each with visual cues, a gym, swimming pool, and a sensory room. There are separate areas that have been created to help the learning style of each child and to fulfill their IEP. Anwar says, “The challenge for us is to make these children independent. A positive approach is necessary to bring out positive behaviour in them.”

Read original article: Special Needs: Oasis for Autistic Children


Genesee Lake School Caters to Kids with Autism, Developmental Delays, and Behavioral Issues

Feb 28, 2011

Some children have issues with autism, Asperger’s, developmental delays, or behavior that keep them from participating in a regular classroom. Genesee Lake School in Wisconsin incorporates facilities that used to house Oconomowoc Development Training Center. The new school, with a day program and a boarding program, that works with kids from 6 to 21 so that they may integrate back to the classroom, or give them training in life skills. Genesee is built with sensory issues in mind; there is diffused lighting, special gym flooring, and soft bells that ring between classes. The classrooms themselves are built to accommodate different learning styles, from traditional furniture to stand-up desks. Along with a 5,300-book library, the facilities include a sensory room, computer lab, and yoga. Chris Naylor, the school’s education coordinator explains, “The philosophy is to help the students learn techniques that will help them cope in other environments.”

Read original article: Genesee Lake School has Special Touch for Students


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Please comment on this autism topic.

Responding to sensory integration

Mar 23, 2010 by Anonymous

Our comapny, Southpaw Enterprises, has been a leader in designing and manufacturing Sensory Integration equipment for 30 years.  We make all of our equipment in Dayton, OH and are also creating and manufacturing our own line of Multisensory Environment products.  Please refer to our website www.southpawenterprises.com


 


Tara

Jul 14, 2008 by Anonymous

Hi,

I am a coordinator for a sensory integration room in Nanaimo, BC. I have been doing behavioural intervention with children with ASD for the past 10 years and developed a sensory Snoezelen room. I have been charting the progress of my clients in the room and have seen a huge reduction in stimming behaviours and aggression. Has anyone else seen these results are well?

Thanks,

Tara


Aquatic Therapy

Sep 20, 2007 by Anonymous

Aquatic therapy can be a wonderful form of exercise and multisensory experience. Check out My Pool Pal (www.mypoolpal.com) which sells fabulous regular and Coast Guard approved flotation swim suits that allow full range of motion for arms and legs. My Pool Pal is a partner with many organizations that help to promote the benefits of Aquatic therapy such as the Easter Seals of Georgia, Coffee County Schools, National Safe Kids, Island Dolphin Therapy and the Marino Swim Central Program just to name a few. My Pool Pal offers flotation swimwear to children 20 lbs. - 70 lbs. and they also custom design suits for children and adults with special needs. Among the other products they offer are the reusable and disposable Swim-sters Swim Diaper which allow for children and adults to enjoy the water without fear of contamination. For children with special needs aquatic therapy can focus on therapeutic play-based functional movement, improving range of motion, helping to facilitate neurodevelopmental growth, improved body awareness, increased balance, sensory integration, mobility skills and most importantly....having fun!


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Please comment on multisensory environments or other autism therapy topics.

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    • Synonyms for multisensory environments include: multisensory, sensory room, sensory rooms, snoezelen, snoezelen rooms
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