The Snoezelen room is a magical place, so say the visitors. For those who aren’t familiar, Snoezelen is a room that provides multi-sensory stimulation and imbibes visitors with a magical sense of calm and security.
The exclusive Snoezelen room at Seeach Sod is completely devoid of noise and distractions. The walls and floors are lined with white, soft padding. A six-foot tall bubble stand in one corner displays illuminated bubbles rising upward to the background of a soft gurgling sound. Colorful lights are projected on the wall in a slow, circular motion. In another corner, a hot-water mattress offers soothing relaxation and right near it is an array of colored, illuminated fibers.
What’s the idea of a Snoezelen room? Can it really affect change? What are the secrets contained in this magical place that can enhance a person’s quality of life?
In this article, we’ll try to share information that will answer these questions.
The inventor of this method, a Dutch by the name of Ed Warhall, worked for many years as an art therapist for people with severe mental retardation. During the therapy sessions, he received minimal, if any, cooperation from his patients. He tried different methods to raise his patients’ level of interest and discovered that in a relaxed, multi-sensory setting, his patients became more alert and responsive. This discovery, which took place in the 1970’s, eventually led to the development of Snoezelen therapy.
How does Snoezelen work?
One of the most essential elements in the physiological functions of human beings is the sensory system. Clinical literature often refers to this as “sensory integration”, which is defined as the ability to process various stimuli delivered through the different sensory faculties in order to help the person understand and respond to his environment. Any hitch in the mechanism will cause a person to have an impaired perception of his environment.
In cases of severe physical or mental disability, sensory integration issues are all the more prominent and we find ourselves talking to people who don’t react and who may seem clueless about the normal interaction between people. Talking to an unresponsive person doesn’t sound like much fun, does it? So what can be done?
Enter Snoezelen, the place where all sensory faculties are exposed to different stimuli. The trick here is to focus on each stimulus. This explains why the Snoezelen room can be dubbed a “sensory lab”.
Greenspan talks about an optimal stimulatory state for every person, not necessarily those with handicaps. Each person has an optimal stimulatory climate in which he functions best, in social, academic and self-motivation aspects. For example: At the hectic time of 8:00 in the morning, it is not a good time for someone to ask you for a favor; neither is it the right time to discuss your child’s social issues, appease a crabby neighbor or deal with a broken telephone. Even if you consider yourself to be a generally patient and pleasant person, we would not to want to be there when you attempt to deal with the child/neighbor/telephone during the morning frenzy. However, after a quiet stroll through the park and enjoying the fresh air, there is a much better chance that you’ll deal more effectively with the predicament at hand. What changed? Of course, there’s an emotional element involved, but the more significant factor here is the sensory climate. When our senses absorb stimuli that are, at the same time, relaxing and invigorating, we become more positive and function better. This would be our optimal stimulatory state.
The Snoezelen, as a “sensory lab”, enables the person to experience multifaceted stimulation that simultaneously relaxes and energizes him. Hence the name Snoezelen which is a neologism formed from the Dutch words “snuffelen” (to explore, which symbolizes alertness) and “doezelen” (to doze/snooze, which connotes relaxation).
So Can I Benefit from Snoezelen Too?
Snoezelen can enhance a person’s awareness of his surroundings and helps him become aware of his sensory preferences and his optimal stimulatory state.
Well, you might say, most people enjoy soft, relaxing music, fresh air, peace and quiet and open, green expanses. True, but let us take a little closer look at ourselves.
Ever heard of the term “sensory profile”? Yes, this term is applicable to each and every one of us. A person is born with several senses, at least seven: vision, hearing, scent, taste, touch, deep muscle sensation, and balance. Every person has his very own unique sensory profile. We always knew that every person has his own distinct taste and what can be delicious to one person may be inedible for another. The same is true for sights and sounds. The same painting can elicit reverse reactions from different people. This is because each person’s sensory system operates differently. Therefore, each person will attain an optimal level of alertness in an environment that matches his sensory preference.
The range of sensory profiles can be illustrated on a spectrum, with one end showing hyposensitivity and the opposite end being hypersensitivity. Every person’s sensory profile can be marked somewhere on the spectrum; a person who is closer to the hyposensitive end will only respond to stimuli that are strong and distinct while a person who is hypersensitive will react to even the slightest stimulus.
Okay, so what difference does all this make to me?
A world of a difference! Our entire perception of the world around us is based on experiences that we’ve processed via our various senses and our own, unique sensory profile.
For the most part, people with a sensory profile closer towards the hyposensitive end of the spectrum will not be as sensitive to noise, flashing lights and large crowds. Such types of people enjoy surprises, get excited quickly, and make friends quickly. In contrast to them, individuals who are hypersensitive are usually quieter and more cautious when forming new social bonds. These people do not like spontaneity and prefer being prepared in advance for any changes. They are also usually meticulous about cleanliness and order.
Balance it Out
The Rambam says that the middle way is the golden path. Nevertheless, the One Above created a colorful world and every person was given his own set of character traits as tools to help him fulfill his role. There is no good or bad sensory profile. Each profile has potential for both good and bad. The reason why we need to be aware of our sensory preferences is in order to help us have a better understanding of ourselves – to help us recognize what motivates us and what impedes us, what deters us and what prods us on. Recognizing our strengths vs. our weaknesses puts us in a better position to achieve self-worth and self-acceptance.
When communicating with our children, having an awareness of their sensory profiles serves as an invaluable key to understanding what draws them closer and what turns them off, what they find pleasing and what may disturb them. There are surely parents out there who have had a child who was fussy from as early on as they can remember or a child with whom the parents don’t “click” as they would have wanted to. In many such cases, there is a lack of awareness regarding sensory profile and its implications.
The topic of sensory profiles and preferences is much too elaborate to aptly condense into one article but it is my hope that I’ve provided an overview of this important subject.
I will end off by summing up the positive effect that Snoezelen can have on our sensory profile. Snoezelen has the amazing ability to balance out our sensory profile. This balance helps us attain greater confidence to experiment with new things and opens new horizons for growth in our personal lives, careers and the way that we utilize our free time.
In the magical ambiance of the Snoezelen room, we learn which type of stimuli motivates us in a positive way and how we can recapture this stimulation even when we’re in a different sensory environment. We learn how to give ourselves good feelings which will enhance our emotional state of being and improve our emotional responses. This important process is called sensory regulation.