Snoezelen® (pronounced [ˈsnuzələ(n)]) is a method, technique, and therapeutic approach aimed at suppressing or stimulating the senses. The term is a neologism formed from the Dutch words “snuffelen” (to snuffle, sniff, browse) and “doezelen” (to gurgle, slumber).

Snoezelen® was first applied in the so called Snoezelrooms that appeared in the Netherlands in the 1970s. It is a non-directive approach, meaning that the experience is controlled by the client rather than the therapist. It is based on the interaction of the person with the physical environment and the person-centred approach of the therapist, giving a psycho-emotional dimension to the person’s sensorimotor experience.

The focus of Snoezelen® is not on the therapeutic outcome, whereas on helping clients to relax, explore and derive maximum pleasure from the activity they choose by themselves to engage in along with their facilitator within the Multi-Sensory Environment (MSE).

Snoezelen® Multi-Sensory Environments are relaxation spaces that help reduce arousal and anxiety, feelings of tension and agitation, but can also engage and delight the user, provide sensory awareness, stimulate responses and encourage communication.

Snoezelen® rooms are specially designed to provide the user with sensory stimuli such as lighting effects, colours, projected images, sounds, music, aromatherapy, etc.. They may include materials of different textures on the walls to be explored tactilely, equipment that adapts to the floor to stimulate the sense of balance, fiber-optic lighting and bubble tubes for visual stimulation, a ball pit pool, etc.. The user of a Snoezelen® room is usually accompanied by his/her companion or therapist.

The advantage of Snoezelen® is that verbal communication is not necessary for its application, which makes it beneficial for people with developmental disabilities, such as low-functioning autism, or dementia or brain damage, as the controlled Multi-Sensory Environment itself is a means of communication that can provide stimuli to those who would otherwise be almost impossible to reach.

Snoezelen® can help:

• infants and babies
• children
• adults
• elderly people
• pregnant women before, during and after childbirth
• people with multiple disabilities
• people with developmental disorders
• people with brain injuries
• people with mental disorders
• people with chronic pain
• people with neurodegenerative diseases
• as prevention of burnout syndrome in the healthcare professions

References

Baker, R., Dowling, Z., Wareing, L. A., Dawson, J., & Assey, J. (1997). Snoezelen: Its long-term and short-term effects on older people with dementia. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 60(5), 213–218. https://doi.org/10.1177/030802269706000507
Bohain, O. (2021, 27 Σεπτεμβρίου). Snoezelen: La Nouvelle Approche Thérapeutique via Les Sens primaires ! Télésambre. Retrieved November 25, 2022, from https://www.telesambre.be/snoezelen-la-nouvelle-approche-therapeutique-les-sens-primaires
Botts, B. H., Hershfeldt, P. A., & Christensen-Sandfort, R. J. (2008). Snoezelen®: Empirical review of product representation. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 23(3), 138–147. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088357608318949
Chung, J. C. C., & Lai, C. K. Y. (2002). Snoezelen for dementia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2010(1). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd003152
Lancioni, G. E., Cuvo, A. J., & O’Reilly, M. F. (2002). Snoezelen: an overview of research with people with developmental disabilities and dementia. Disability and rehabilitation, 24(4), 175–184. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638280110074911
Long, A. P., & Haig, L. (1992). How do clients benefit from Snoezelen? an exploratory study. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 55(3), 103–106. https://doi.org/10.1177/030802269205500307
McKee, S. A., Harris, G. T., Rice, M. E., & Silk, L. (2007). Effects of a Snoezelen room on the behavior of three autistic clients. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 28(3), 304–316. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2006.04.001
Novakovic, N., Milovancevic, M. P., Dejanovic, S. D., & Aleksic, B. (2019). Effects of snoezelen—multisensory environment on cars scale in adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 89, 51–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2019.03.007
Sensory rooms and therapy explained. Snoezelen Multi-Sensory Environments. (n.d.). Retrieved November 25, 2022, from https://www.snoezelen.info/
Staal, J. A., Pinkney, L., & Roane, D. M. (2003). Assessment of stimulus preferences in multisensory environment therapy for older people with dementia. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 66(12), 542–550. https://doi.org/10.1177/030802260306601202
Thompson, S. B., & Martin, S. (1994). Making sense of multisensory rooms for people with learning disabilities. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 57(9), 341–344. https://doi.org/10.1177/030802269405700904
Toro, B. (2019). Memory and standing balance after multisensory stimulation in a Snoezelen room in people with moderate learning disabilities. British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 47(4), 270–278. https://doi.org/10.1111/bld.12289
Van Diepen, E., Baillon, S. F., Redman, J., Rooke, N., Spencer, D. A., & Prettyman, R. (2002). A pilot study of the physiological and behavioural effects of snoezelen in dementia. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 65(2), 61–66. https://doi.org/10.1177/030802260206500203