What is Snoezelen?

Explanation of Snoezelen

Snoezelen is a word coined from a combination of the two, and was originally started in the 1970s in the Netherlands as a leisure activity for people with severe intellectual disabilities.

In the Snoezelen Room, the space where this activity takes place, things that gently stimulate the senses, such as light, sound, smell, vibration, and tactile materials, are effectively arranged.
In this space, users can enjoy their favorite senses and have a special time with no one telling them what to do.

In the 1980s, when aromatherapy, touching care, music therapy, and other forms of warm care began to attract attention, snoezelen developed mainly in Europe as part of a movement to unite them.

In recent years, it has spread to more than 30 countries around the world, and is often used as a therapeutic approach to change thoughts, feelings, and behaviors by using sensory stimulation that is comfortable for the person.

There are three elements that make up a snoezelen: (1) the user, (2) the caregiver, and (3) the environment.

Today, the International Snoezelen, a global organization of snoezelen, defines snoezelen as.

Incorporating the conceptual framework, MSE/Snoezelen is defined as a dynamic pool of Intellectual property built on an ongoing sensitive relationship between the participant, the skilled companion and a controlled environment, where a multitude of sensory stimulation possibilities are offered. Developed in the mid 1970s and practiced worldwide, the MSE/Snoezelen is guided by ethical principles of enriching quality of life. This shared approach has applications in leisure, therapy, and education, and takes place in a dedicated space suitable for all people, particularly those with special needs including dementia and autism.

reference：ISNA-MSE HP　http://www.isna-mse.org/isna-mse/Snoezelen.html

Purpose of using the snoezelen room

Today in Europe, snoezelen rooms (sometimes called by other names such as “sensory rooms”) are used for this purpose.

Leisure activities for people with serious disabilities or illnesses Play therapy for the mentally disabled and developmentally disabled children Care for the elderly with dementia To stabilize the emotions of psychologically unstable people As an exploratory activity to develop spontaneity and communication skills As a space for children to spend time at a relaxed pace

This type of use is spreading to community centers and nursery schools, and can be expected to be used in a variety of places in Japan.

Leisure? Therapy? Which is it?

Each profession has its own assumptions, knowledge base, traditions, terminology, theoretical and philosophical approaches, and professional skills. Not surprisingly, professional ideologies have colored the way MSEs have been designed, used, and explained.”（Paul Pagliano,1988）
Educational facilities and welfare facilities have different goals to achieve. In addition, positions such as occupational therapist, nurse, teacher, and researcher have different perspectives, and therefore, Snoezelen has been interpreted and information passed on through each person’s filter in Japan.

Difference between Snooze Len and Sensory Room

Hashimoto, Kase(2021)
	(1)Users (clients)	(2)Caregiver （human environment）	(3)Sensory stimulation Environment rich in sensory stimulation （Physical environment）
Snoezelen	●	●	●
Multi Sensory Envioronment	ー	●	●※An environment that can be adapted to the needs of the users.
MSR and Snoezelen Room	ー	ー	●※An environment that can be adapted to the needs of the users.
Sensory room	ー	ー	●※A somewhat formulaic environment