Sensory Rooms

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Welcome back

It is I... the Sofest Satan you'll ever meet

Back with this weeks blog on sensory rooms.

I am not a doctor. I do not specialise in this topic, I am not a specialist with autistic children. However I have some experience because I have looked after 3 family , including my brother who is autistic.

I can not give you professional advice. Please go and talk to a professional if you want to know more!

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Essentially, sensory rooms are used for children with disabilities, it being mental or physical, build on their senses development. However this isn't always the case, most, if not every person could have a sensory room if they wanted to. And it has been used for adults, and for children without disabilities.

Sensory room is the umbrella term for these rooms, they are quiet, safe places for children and adults to go. But also being therapeutic, calming and a learning experience for people. Everyone's sensory room experience may and can be different to everyone else's depending on the needs of the person.

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Each sensory room, should be built to the needs of the person it is being built for. With a mixture of light, touch, auditory, taste and smell stimulants. There is specialist equipment for these kind of rooms, from lava lamps, to optical fibre lights, cushions, chewing toys, ball pits and more.

All of these can ground a person when in a crisis or help build on developmental needs. The room needs to give off a calming ambience, no sudden movements or loud noises, this room is a quiet and safe place for those who need it.

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Vestibular activities

These revolve around physical movement like swinging or rocking. Hammocks, swings, rocking horses can all become calming and soothing. Some of these items are more expensive than others, but even I find the gently rock soothing.

Light/visual

You can get big floor to ceiling interactive tanks that allow bubbles, fake fish movements and small bead pearls to float around at the press of a button, as a visual stimulant, the idea is that you watch it rise and fall, keeping the mind intrigued. Such things like lava lamps, fibre optic shower lightly strands can all help. Fairy lights, floor lights, mood lights.

Smell

Smelling a certain smell can often be calmed, scented candles, incense sticks, diffs can all help. Give off a not so potent smell that can help calm some one and remind them that they are safe. Another usual reason to have these as they can help ground someone during an anxiety/panic attack, flashback episodes etc.

Taste

This is for people who have oral sensitivities to food, whether it be texture, taste, spicy or sweet. Although you should not force someone to eat something uncomfortable, something simple like chew training, or teething toys can help them with eating issues. This requires patience and time with the person you're helping.

Proprioception

This is for those who like the feeling of being hugged or squished, per say, things like weighted blankets, therapy balls, pillows, big bean bags, hammocks etc will help these people as they like the feeling of being safe and has been proven to help those with anxiety and those over active.

Auditory

If you're like me and prefer music as a way of therapy this might just work, although music can be used, it should be on a low volume and should be very calming music, like piano, or binaural music that helps relax a person. If you don't know what binaural music is, you can search it on YouTube.

Although all of these stimulants can be helpful, to many can cause someone to go into a sensory overload. Always start with 1-3 to begin with and build it from there. Everyone is different.

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My first experience in a sensory room was when I was around 7 years old. And no I am not a child or adult that has disabilities. I have dyslexia, but that has never affected me as much. However I have had childhood trauma and I did not like being around social situations, I avoided it, became aggressive and moody, I went into school counselling and was allowed to use the sensory room at my lunch break. It wasn't big and allowed no more than three people in at a time.

As you came in, and too the left was a huge beanbag, as you walked into the middle, the room dipped down, there war star lights in the floor and the ceiling, it was a very soft carpet with foam seating, it was cool and comforting. The room itself was cool, I felt it more relaxing. There was soft music in the background and in the corner of the left stood 3 floor to ceiling interactive lamps, that held fish, glitter and the last was a lava lamp.

I often felt disconnect and stressed even at that age which is not healthy, I spent most of my last two years in that school, in that room because I felt that I could be safe and calm despite everything else, I would interact with the lamps and I even fell asleep in the bean bag because it was so comfortable. For half an hour a day I could feel truly relaxed with myself.

I miss having a sensory room now because of how much it helped, which is what it inspired me to write this post. Sensory rooms isn't just for people with disabilities, but for anyone who struggles in daily life and find them needing a safe, therapeutic place to escape even for a short time. These are so important and needed.

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That's all I have for you today. I hope you enjoyed reading this and got some insight into sensory rooms.

Until next time. Soft Satan...g off

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