Benefits of a Multi-Sensory Space

What are the benefits of a multi-sensory room?

Sensory rooms are important because of the endless opportunities for sensory-based input, changes to alertness, and social interactions they can offer to a vast majority of users, regardless of the different needs of each person. Sensory rooms and occupational therapy are alike, and important, as each are both tailored to the needs and focus of improvement of each person to bring them to the highest level of ability and tolerance that they can be.

Safe and engaging

Engaging adults and children with sensory disorders can be a challenging task, especially as a lot of learning equipment can be dull or daunting. Someone with a sensory disorder often finds the outside world a challenging and stressful place where they don’t feel in control. This can significantly impact their development. 

A multi-sensory room transforms a standard room into a safe and engaging place where users of all ages and abilities can learn and interact. It is also a great place for carers to bond with their children, students or clients, and form stronger relationships which can be carried into their everyday life.

Personalised effect

Another multi-sensory room benefit is the personalized experience that can be created for every user. A calming or stimulating effect can be created, depending on which type of products are chosen. Music and scents can be added to enhance the experience.

Improved concentration and alertness

The eye-catching and stimulating products which are included in our multi-sensory room can help to improve concentration and general alertness, which makes learning outside of the sensory room more successful.

Cognitive development

Sensory rooms provide users with the opportunity to explore cause and effect as they are learning how their actions have an impact in the world around them. This will, in turn, help the user to cope in situations where their reactions might otherwise have been extreme due to sensory overload.

Improved socialisation

Sensory room benefits don’t have to be experienced alone. If your user needs practice interacting with others, a multi-sensory room provides the perfect place for this as it allows the user to explore a safe and stress-free space with other individuals too.

Improve memory

There are various environmental and medical reasons someone may have challenges with their memory. Those living with alzheimer’s, dementia, closed head injury, autism or even ADD and ADHD can be challenged with memory recall. We know for sure that stress has a negative effect on memory. The use of soothing elements like vibration, soothing lights, aromatherapy, vestibular movement (example movements like swinging, vertical, rotary and angular can help) and digital sound can have a soothing and calming effect on us allowing our memory center to become more active. Our multi-sensory room can help to filter, organise and modulate sensory information. By allowing an individual to relax, and focus on their surroundings, they may notice an overall improvement in their quality of life from their sensory retreat.

Emotional development

The ability to note and manage our emotional responses is what we call emotional intelligence. Emotional development begins from the moment we are born and perhaps even in uterus and continues throughout our lives. For many, and particularly those with cognitive delay, neurological challenges, autism, alzheimer’s, sensory processing disorders and those suffering abuse, emotional development can be delayed or under-developed. The inability, yet need, to respond appropriately can be quite stressful for such individuals. A sensory environment filled with soft sounds, sights and textures through the use of bubble tubes, mirrors and interactive walls or floors, can create the perfect calm to help individuals regulate their emotions. Regular attendance can have such a profound effect on those with emotional development delays that will transfer to their day-to-day interactions.

Hand to eye co-ordination

Hand Eye Coordination is the control of eye movement with hand movement. Though traditionally thought of being used with sports, eye hand coordination can be challenged and encouraged through the use of interactive switches and interactive multi-sensory environments. Interactive panels, bubble tubes and interactive floors can be used to encourage hand placement in response to sights and sounds. These tools are much needed for those living with a physical challenge. Once exposed to, an individual with hand eye co-ordination challenge, will naturally gain confidence in such a necessary skill. This newly acquired confidence can transfer to many activities outside of the sensory room.  A sensory room facility may improve the quality of life and provide the much needed stimulation.

Fine motor skills

For many of us, our fingers do our talking. Without fine motor skills, we find ourselves dependent on others for tasks such as dressing, writing, grasping and even using a computer. This much-needed skill is developed early in childhood and yet not fully acquired until we are much older. Though we traditionally offer tools such as fidgets and manipulatives to stimulate fine motor, a multi-sensory environment can offer a wonderful outlet for encouraging use of the hands and fingers with sound, sight and touch rewards. Some of the additions in our room will encourage use, such as switches, buttons and touch boards that encourage the use of fine motor skills. Without the stress of a specific required outcome, those with fine motor challenges can succeed in a sensory room and transfer their successes to the real world.

Gross motor skills

Movement is at the basis of gross motor development. This basic skill begins very early during infancy. Though we may assume it is a childhood developmental need, the truth is that motor development is beneficial throughout our lives. A multi-sensory environment can encourage gross motor development in a safe, secure, non-competitive environment. The use of interactive flooring, balance beams and interactive walls, can help encourage motor skills. Within the confines of a safe, secure yet highly interactive and responsive environment, skills are rewarded and so more easily encouraged and developed.

Attention

A multi-sensory environment can provide excellent tools for encouraging focus, attention and concentration. Out carefully designed room, with select products, uses a range of solutions to engage even the most distracted individual. Regular sensory room use can have a profound effect on individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). The benefits of these environments can carry over to day-to-day activities and learning.

Calming

The inability to calm oneself when necessary can be debilitating. Our calming products can help to filter, organize and modulate sensory information. Once exposed to our calming lights, sounds, and aromas an individual can relax, engage and focus on their surroundings. These tools act as filters for individuals with sensory processing disorder, autism, alzheimer’s, dementia and ADHD. The culmination of these effects can provide a much needed sensory retreat.

Cause and effect

Understanding cause and effect may be a challenging concept for some individuals with limited physical or cognitive abilities. Just a few sessions of engagement in a multi-sensory room can open up a new world where the user is now in control of their environment through interactive bubble tubes, remote switches, changing colours of fibre optics, interactive stepping stones and more. This can all teach individuals with sensory challenges, learning differences, autism, ADHD and alzheimer’s about cause and effect. Providing this understanding of reactions may improve the quality of life through sensory interaction. For someone who lacks control, this can be life altering. A sensory room may improve the quality of life and provide the much needed sensory interaction.

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