Supporting children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: Potential applications of a Snoezelen multisensory room

ABSTRACT

How are mental health practitioners using Snoezelen rooms with children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) within a community mental health setting? Using purposive sampling, we collected information from seven practitioners on how they currently use Snoezelen rooms to support children with FASD and what evidence they believe is needed to assess Snoezelen’s treatment efficacy. Using grounded theory methodology, results indicated that priority research areas include the efficacy of Snoezelen for increasing self-regulation skills, positive parent–child interactions, and parent education. To support evidence-driven use of Snoezelen rooms for mental health treatment, we recommend that future research be focused in these areas.

KEYWORDS:

• Sensory rooms
• Snoezelen
• fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
• children
• mental health therapy

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the participants for providing their experiences and insights. We would also like to thank Dr. John R. Reddon of Alberta Hospital Edmonton and Dr. David Gill for their expertise during the planning phase of this study.

Conflicts of interest

None.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Edmonton and Area Fetal Alcohol Network Society, McKesson Canada, and the REALTORS Community Foundation, Edmonton & Area.