MULTI-SENSORY ROOMS

WHAT IS A MULTI-SENSORY ROOM?

• A MULTI SENSORY ROOM IS A ROOM WHICH PROVIDES SENSORY STIMULATION (TEMPLE STREET CHILDREN’S UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, N.D.)

• THIS STIMULATION CAN BE CONTROLLED – IT CAN BE INTENSIFIED OR REDUCED (HIDDEN ANGEL FOUNDATION, N.D.)

• SENSORY ROOMS CAN BE USED BY INDIVIDUALS OF ANY AGE (TEMPLE STREET CHILDREN’S UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL)

• THERE ARE TWO MAIN AIMS OF MULTI-SENSORY ROOMS:• TO PROVIDE RELAXATION • TO ENCOURAGE INTELLECTUAL ACTIVITY (HIDDEN ANGEL FOUNDATION, N.D.)

WHAT CAN BE FOUND IN A MULTI SENSORY ROOM?

• LIGHTING EFFECTS – PROJECTORS, UV LIGHTS, BUBBLE LAMPS AND STAR PANELS• SENSORY ACTIVITIES – BUBBLES, PLAYDOUGH AND FINGER PAINTING• TACTILE EXPERIENCE – TOUCHING DIFFERING TEXTURES• CAUSE AND EFFECT – ITEMS WITH SWITCHES WHICH ALLOW FOR INDIVIDUAL TO CONTROL• SOFT ITEMS – FLOOR MATS AND PILLOWS• SOUND EFFECT – MUSIC AND SOUNDS• TASTING EXPERIENCES• MOTION STIMULATION (HIDDEN ANGEL FOUNDATION, N.D.)

BENEFITS OF A MULTI SENSORY ROOM

• INCREASED CONCENTRATION• GREATER LEVEL OF ATTENTION• BRINGS BACK MEMORIES• ALERTNESS• IMPROVED MOBILISATION • CREATIVITY• COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT• LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT • IMPROVED SOCIAL INTERACTIONS AND

COMMUNICATION • RELAXATION – PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY

• Calmness• Reduction of aggressive behaviour• Relief from pain

• (Hidden Angel Foundation, n.d.)

MULTI SENSORY ROOM IN STEP BY STEP

• THE MULTI SENSORY ROOM IN STEP BY STEP IS USED REGULARLY• THE PROCESS OF USING A MULTI SENSORY ROOM INVOLVES ONE PROJECT WORKER AND CHILD

GOING INTO THE ROOM FOR TEN MINUTES• DURING THIS TIME THE CHILD CAN DECIDE WHAT THEY WANT TO DO AND THEY PROJECT

WORKER’S ROLE IS TO ASSIST AND SUPERVISE THEM IN THIS• CHILDREN ARE ONLY ALLOWED TO STAY IN THE ROOM FOR TEN MINUTES EACH AS THE WORKERS

HAVE FOUND THAT SOMETIMES IT CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE CHILD TO ADAPT BACK INTO THE GROUP SETTING AFTER A LONGER PERIOD SPENT IN THE MULTI SENSORY ROOM

• AS WELL AS THIS, THE TIME LIMIT ENSURES THERE IS ENOUGH TIME FOR EVERY CHILD TO GO INTO THE ROOM IF THEY WISH

WHAT IS IN STEP BY STEPS MULTI SENSORY ROOM?

mirrors, mats and bean bags

Light board – to draw on A projector and

sound system

LIGHTING EFFECTS

LIGHTING EFFECTS AND BUBBLES

LIGHTING EFFECTS

OTHERMassage bed

Mirror

REFLECTION ON THE USE OF THE MULTI SENSORY ROOM IN STEP BY STEP

• WHILE IT WAS CLEAR THE CHILDREN IN STEP BY STEP ENJOYED USING THE MULTI SENSORY ROOM I FOUND IT WASN’T CONDUCTED EFFICIENTLY

• IT SEEMED THE PROJECT WORKERS WEREN’T CONFIDENT USING THE DIFFERENT SENSORY MACHINES AND THE SESSIONS HAD VERY LITTLE STRUCTURE

• I SAW FEW BENEFITS AFTER THE CHILDREN USED THE MULTI SENSORY ROOM IN THEIR BEHAVIOUR• ALTHOUGH RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THESE ROOMS CAN BE EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL, I BELIEVE FOR THIS TO

OCCUR THE PROJECT WORKERS MUST BE CONFIDENT AND NEED TO COORDINATE THE PROCESS EFFECTIVELY• MY ADVICE TO STEP BY STEP, WOULD BE FOR THE PROJECT WORKERS TO ATTEND A TRAINING DAY TO UPSKILL IN THIS

AREA. UPON COMPLETION OF THIS THE WORKERS COULD THEN ANALYSE WHAT CHILDREN COULD BENEFIT MOST FROM TIME IN THE ROOM AND PLAN ONE-TO-ONE PROGRAMMES FOR THESE CHILDREN.

• STEP BY STEP ARE EXTREMELY LUCKY TO HAVE THIS FACILITY IN THEIR PROJECT AND I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS

REFERENCES• Hidden Angel Foundation. (n.d.). Multi Sensory Environments: The Benefits.

Retrieved from Hidden Angel Foundation: http://www.cdhaf.org/multi-sensory-environments-the-benefits/• Hidden Angel Foundation. (n.d.). What are Multi Sensory Environments.

Retrieved from Hidden Angel Foundation: http://www.cdhaf.org/what-are-multi-sensory-environments/• Temple Street Children's University Hospital. (n.d.). Multi Sensory Rooms.

Retrieved from Temple Street Children's University Hospital: http://www.cuh.ie/children-families/coming-temple-street/parents-guardians/multisensory-room/