Snoezelen therapy: the power of the seven senses

Abstract

Snoezelen, a multi-sensory stimulation therapy described as a nonpharmacological psychosocial intervention, is based on the stimulation or relaxation of the primary senses of sight, hearing, touch, taste, balancing, proprioception and smell, through the use of lighting effects, meditative or integrative music, tactile surfaces, and the odors of relaxing essential oils. The main objective of this multi-sensory therapeutic approach is the personal wellbeing of people. It has become increasingly popular in the last decades given its efficacy to alleviate the behavioral and psychological (BPSD) symptoms usually observed and described in dementia illness. Dementia is a chronic, irreversible and neurological disease that is characterized by a progressive cognitive deterioration and a wide range of behavioral and psychosocial problems including aggression, depression, anxiety, euphoria, apathy, disinhibition, agitation, sleeping disturbances, and eating disorders. In addition, a few studies have also reported the possible application of this therapy in other diseases such as Rett syndrome, traumatic brain injury, palliative care or cerebral paralysis. This review collects Snoezelen information of various articles offering a detailed description of the concept. It also explains the pedagogical and therapeutic used of the therapy that is taking place in villages of the Basque Country, giving a critical view of the beneficial effects and shortcomings that Snoezelen therapy can bring for treating brain diseases.