- One of the central focuses in Snoezelen research around the world has been in its benefits for people with
dementia. Although further exploration in this direction of research is needed, there are consistent findings that
demonstrate overall success with a wide range of clients. Recent studies conducted in Great Britain and the
Netherlands both show positive results of client improvement in cognition, communication, functional behaviour, and
overall state of well-being.
- Research done in Brussels studied nine adult individuals with severe autism in a classroom as well as a Snoezelen
Room environment. Though individual results varied, the group results showed a fifty percent reduction in distress,
and seventy-five percent less aggression and self-injury in a Snoezelen Room setting.
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The Council's Snoezelen Room, showing the Bubble Tube, Catherine |
- Much research done on Snoezelen Rooms has been in relation to children with special needs. The Snoezelen room
provides a safe and accessible place for children to relax - a space far away from the stress of the classroom and the
everyday world. In the room children may take control of their environment. The teaching staff at Addlington School in
Reading, England stated that they found their Snoezelen room to be an “invaluable resource...useful for a wide range
of ages and abilities in a varied curriculum.” In Germany, a 1994 study concluded that children had increased
motivation to succeed and demonstrated and improvement in their concentration and eye-hand coordination.
- All people have the right to leisure and enjoyment. The Snoezelen Room allows people with intellectual/developmental
disabilities to seek leisure in an unstructured and undemanding environment. The multi-sensory space transgresses
barriers, which traditional forms of leisure activities may impose. Snoezelen allows clients to relax in a nonverbal
setting and helps in further self-healing.
- The calm atmosphere of the Snoezelen Room allows people who suffer from tension, depression, or anxiety to relax
and feel comfortable to express their thoughts and emotions. This kind of release can have further effect throughout
the day.
- A Snoezelen Room also can provide relief from severe and chronic pain, and may also help women to stay calm and
focused during labour. The calm, but also stimulating, environment allows for distraction from pain. This relaxed
leisure experience offers a “rehumanizing” effect for those who may not otherwise have ready access to any kind of
leisure activity.
- A Snoezelen Room provides a sense of security as well as comfort. The room is a space where children who suffer
from traumas of violence, sexual abuse, or the effects of war may feel safe and regain confidence. They become willing
to communicate and trust others. Further study has also shown critically ill children to able to engage in deep
relaxation and improve their sleep patterns.
- A Snoezelen Room creates both a stimulating, as well as calm, environment for the senses. In Belgium, at the
University Hospital of Ghent, caregivers worked with young adults suffering from severe brain trauma who showed
positive reactions from a Snoezelen Room. The room allows patients to received therapy that addresses both gross-motor
capability and emotional needs.