Sensory Rooms for Dementia

Defining dementia can sometimes seem an impossible task, whether every person having a very different experience with the condition. Below are some of the most common symptoms of dementia, which can include:

memory loss

difficulty thinking or problem solving

can affect language skills

out of character behaviour or moods

Unfortunately, even though some of these symptoms can be small scale, to begin with, they can quickly develop, having a great effect on that person's daily living. 

Sensory spaces are proven to be highly beneficial to those with dementia. They can help them to calm down, stimulate emotion and even improve memory. In addition, immersing a person with dementia in a sensory room can help increase their awareness of their environment and improve their mood. 

Products like fibre optics and our Borealis tube are ideal for dementia patients because they engage the individual with their surroundings, give them control and can be used by people regardless of their mobility.  Aromatherapy is also a great tool often used to help dementia patients.

How Does Noise Affect Someone with Dementia?

Unpleasant or overwhelming noises can be very distressing to a dementia patient for many reasons.

The link between hearing and balance means that auditory sensory overload can increase the risk of falling. Too many noises, or noises that are confusing or upsetting, can lead dementia patients to feel anxious or even become violent as a defence. To create a dementia-friendly environment, background noise should be reduced, so they do not become overwhelmed.

In the sensory room, you can control the level of noise and what noise comes through. Our sound can be set to a level that suits, to create pleasant atmosphere, natural sounds, which can be very beneficial to those with dementia.

Of course, dementia can affect people in different ways therefore, creating a dementia-friendly environment should be tailored to suit them. 

The picture at the top is my mum, she has dementia and found the borealis tube and fibre optics extremely appealing, I wish I had this space when she first started to show signs.

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Sensory Rooms for Autism

A profound effect can be noticed when individuals with autism regularly experience scheduled time in a multi-sensory environment. Living in a bubble, lack of innate social skills, and difficulty with communication is common amongst those living on the autism spectrum. Yet, spending regular time in a room with softened lights, projected images, fiber optics, and bubble tubes in addition to digital sound and aromatherapy can filter much of the incoming extraneous sensory information. This allows individuals with autism to organise, and often begin to communicate and integrate, information. It's increasingly important to recognise sensory needs autism poses and this can be achieved through the use of sensory autism aids. Sensory products are carefully designed to maximise the benefits of each experience and thereby reduce anxiety, extraneous movements, and sensory blockage, while encouraging communication, speech, and socialisation.

Some great tools for engaging individuals with Autism:

Bubble/Borealis Tubes

Fibre Optics

Mirrors

Switches or Controllers

Time in a sensory room helps children improve their visual, auditory and tactile processing, as well as fine and gross motor skills. 

By providing a sense of calm and comfort, sensory rooms help children learn to self-regulate their behavior's, which ultimately improves focus.

Stimulating the brain creates neural pathways and improves sensory processing systems as well as improving social skills such as communication and cooperation. Promotes independence and confidence.

A sensory room can improve coordination, promote relaxation and de-escalation to improve a distressed or overstimulated state of mind.

Teach valuable life-skills such as cause and effect understanding, recognition and response.

For young children it can provide encouragement and development of early years skills whilst having fun.

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Sensory Rooms for ADHD

One of the most common psychiatric disorders in children is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). 

Its course and outcome are heterogeneous. Sensory processing problems impact the nature of response to daily events. 

ADHD and sensory problems may occur together and interact.

ADHD is not on the autism spectrum, but they have some of the same symptoms, and having one of these conditions increases the chances of having the other.

Sensory rooms have a positive effect on those with ADHD as the vibrations, focused lighting, aromatherapy and sound control can dramatically assist with attention skills. These tools act as a filter for all with ADHD as sensory rooms can be a safe space for the individual to engage calmly and succeed.

Experts have changed the way they think about how autism and ADHD are related.

There are 3 main types of sensory processing disorders:

Sensory Modulation Disorder (SMD)

Sensory-Based Motor Disorder (SBMD)

Sensory Discrimination Disorder.

Common Sensory System Conditions

Cataracts.

Deafness.

Glaucoma.

Microphthalmia.

Nystagmus.

Ptosis.

Sensory Processing Disorder.

Strabismus.

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Sensory Rooms for Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)

Sensory processing disorder, also known as SPD or sensory integration disorder, is a term describing a collection of challenges that occur when the senses fail to respond properly to the outside world.

The five external senses of vision, hearing, touch, taste, and smell - as well as the internal vestibular, interoceptive, and proprioceptive senses - are critical for interacting with the environment. When the sensory receptors in the nervous system malfunction, as they’re theorised to do in SPD, common stimuli like lights, noises, and textures may be perceived as too bright, too loud, or too uncomfortable.

Sensory processing issues may also manifest as input-related challenges, resulting in sensory-seeking behaviors compensating for low levels of tactile or proprioceptive input.

A sensory diet must include a sensory room break for an individual with Sensory Processing Disorder. Whether you have a sensory seeker, sensory over-responder or sensory under-responder, a multisensory room can provide the perfect room for their senses. 

Bubble tubes, tunnels, fibre optics, sound systems, projectors, and aromatherapy can filter the incoming sensory overload and allow for sensory modulation and organisation.

What is often seen as a behavioral problem might actually be a sensory need, and once met, the behaviors may diminish.

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Sensory Rooms for Cerebral Palsy

Engaging in sensory activities for people with cerebral palsy is incredibly beneficial and important for their development.

Children and adults with cerebral palsy struggle with movement, coordination, and sensory processing, which can set them back in their development. That’s why dedicating time to sensory activities for cerebral palsy is so crucial.

What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy is a blanket term for neurological problems that affect an individual’s motor function, movement, muscle control, balance, and sensory processing. Such neurological issues are caused by brain injury or atypical brain development before, during, or immediately after birth. However, signs of cerebral palsy do not usually present themselves right away. You may only notice a delay in your child’s development when they reach typical growth milestones. Most children begin to display symptoms before the age of three.

Cerebral Palsy Sensory Challenges

Many with cerebral palsy have sensory struggles stemming from neurological issues. They may find it difficult to process sensory inputs and may find sensory inputs over or under-stimulating. Some cerebral palsy sensory challenges include struggling with hearing, smelling, sight, taste, touch, proprioceptive processing, and vestibular processing. Sensory dysfunction can hinder a child’s development, impact how they understand the world, and negatively impact their physical and mental health. So, engaging in sensory activities is important for their overall development and well-being.

Specialised sensory tools lend themselves perfectly to sensory activities for cerebral palsy. Expertly designed for those with sensory challenges, specialised sensory tools like the Borealis Tube and fibre optics, will help them learn colour recognition, cause and effect, and other key skills. Bubble tubes have many uses and can be used by people with cerebral palsy to relax, improve focus, and learn about colours. They can control the borealis tube, too, which helps to strengthen their motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and understanding of cause and effect. The various movements and colours that borealis tube display creates an engaging and mesmerising environment. The Four Way Hand Switch will allow the visitors to have interactive control over the colour of the tube. It features four switches; press each one to change the colour of the tube or all four for a different ‘reward’. The remote is a radio based wireless product so allows easy access to all users. control the environment. Playing with these sensory tools will help develop their gross motor skills, coordination, ability to recognize colours, and to understand the relationship between them.

The Interactive floor has so many benefits, to enhance many areas, it’s a fun way to develop and extend the areas which are needed. Helping the user to be engaged and encourage movements. If your child or loved one has cerebral palsy, it’s vital to regularly keep them active and engaged with sensory activities. There are many avenues you can try when it comes to these activities, just remember to keep them fun, focused, and interactive. And, don’t stress if they don’t show interest in a particular cerebral palsy sensory activity; there are lots to try, and you should let them guide the way.

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Sensory Rooms for Down Syndrome

Down Syndrome is a common chromosomal condition that causes developmental delays, both mentally and physically.

Providing support for individuals, especially young children, with Down Syndrome is vital to promote the best possible development.

Sensory Down Syndrome products are amazing, safe tools for promoting physical, cognitive, and social development for people with Down Syndrome. Designing a dedicated sensory room for someone with Down Syndrome, that’s tailored to their specific needs, can prove highly beneficial.

Individuals with Down Syndrome can learn to participate and excel at almost any activity, but their motivation may be lower than average. So, it is imperative that they are exposed and encouraged to participate in regular physical activity. For those who are less motivated, a multi-sensory room can assist as it reduces the extraneous sensory information that may interfere with sensory-motor processing. In a multi-sensory room, body awareness and position and its relationship to the environment is heightened and more easily learned. For example, if I see a tantalising light that I want to touch, or an interactive floor, I may be more motivated to move. 

Down syndrome sensory products offer more than just sensory skills development but also emotional development.

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Sensory Rooms for Emotional and Behavioural Disorder (EBD)

Individuals with Emotional and Behavioural Disorder (EBD) persistently display at least one of the following five emotional characteristics over a long period of time:

An inability to learn that cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory, or health factors.

An inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships with peers and teachers.

Inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under normal circumstances.

A general pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression.

A tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems.

A multi-sensory room is an effective strategy for students with EBD because they can have such a profound effect on someone’s mood.

Those with EBD can often find relief and growth from their sensory room experiences.

Individuals with EBD frequently have a loss of control and difficulty expressing themselves. A sensory room experience can put control back into their hands as they successfully manipulate their way around a room with fibre optics, interactive floors or panels, and soothing images. The change in sound and sight frequency without any threat can allow someone with EBD to literally find themselves at the centre of their world.

Sensory rooms can be calming to soothe users who are feeling anxious, overwhelmed, hyperactive, or aggressive. They can also be attention-grabbing, providing focus for students who are hyperactive or who struggle to concentrate.

Some great tools for engaging individuals with Emotional and Behavioral Challenges include:

Balance Beam

Bubble/Borealis Tubes

Fibre Optics

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Sensory Rooms for Dyspraxia (DCD)

Dyspraxia (also known as DCD - Developmental coordination disorder) affects physical coordination which results in them struggling with day-to-day tasks and appearing clumsy in relation to their peers of a similar age. The condition is thought to be around 3-4 times more common in boys than girls it can also run-in families.

Key signs of Dyspraxia involve delaying of milestones in development in a child. DCD children are often behind when it comes to crawling, walking, self-feeding or dressing. Alongside this, things such as sports, writing and drawing may be more difficult for a DCD child. All children develop at different rates, and as such DCD isn’t fully diagnosed until around the age of 5.

A multi-sensory room can provide the perfect stimulus for encouraging motor planning and independence to those individuals with Dyspraxia. Also known as Motor Learning Difficulties, Perceptual-Motor Dysfunction, and Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), Dyspraxia often means difficulty with planning and completing motor tasks. This can range from simple motor movements, such as a wave hello, to more complex ones like using a pencil. 

Manipulating fibre optic strands or remote-control switches that control our borealis tube and the Interactive floor as well as responding to projected images can be just the right encouragement for individuals with Dyspraxia.

With a new sense of calm, organised thinking and sensory regulation, individuals can focus on the tasks at hand.

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