Patient Care

Snoezelen Multi-Sensory Therapy for Children

Look at my hair!” says Gabi as she wraps the colorful light emitting rope strands around her tiny four year-old body. The fiber optics are part of the Snoezelen® therapy room at The Alexis Verzal Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital (AVCRH). The multi-sensory room is the only one of its kind in Nebraska.

Snoezelen was developed by two therapists working in the Netherlands in the 1970s. The unique name is a combination of two Dutch words, Snuffelen — to sniff or explore — and doezelen, to relax. A Snoezelen room environment fosters relaxation, cooperation and participation. The Snoezelen approach is based on the understanding that the sensory system is the earliest to develop. Young babies learn and grow by using their senses of hearing, touch, taste and smell. Snoezelen was originally used for recreation and relaxation for adults with disabilities, but was quickly adopted in rehabilitation for a variety of other disabilities, including brain injury as well as a broader age range.

A variety of sensory equipment is housed in the AVCRH Snoezelen room, including fiber optic toys, an interactive bubble tube that changes color and a projector with images that can alter the room’s atmosphere. All of these provide visual and/or tactile stimulation.

“The Snoezelen room allows us to help patients achieve an appropriate sensory level to encourage learning,” said Amy Nordness, pediatric program manager. This is achieved through discovering the right level of stimulating vs. calming activities that is unique to each individual. “At Madonna, the intended use is for low-level traumatic brain injury patients, but it has a wide application,” said Nordness.

The ultimate goal of the enriched environment is to rehabilitate the nervous system so that patients are able to process information of increasing variety and complexity. Studies have shown that Snoezelen therapy is effective for:

• Stimulating the senses
• Providing an alternative to medication and isolation
• Increasing functionality, awareness and attention
• Improving appetite, memory, cognition and speech
• Decreasing aggression and anxiety

Additionally, studies report that patients exposed to Snoezelen therapy may experience increased happiness and improved relationships. Snoezelen is another therapeutic resource to enhance outcomes and improve the quality of life for patients with disabilities and other limiting conditions.