Sensory modulation is one tool that works well and supports initiatives to reduce seclusion and restraint use. Sensory modulation is becoming well embedded in some New Zealand mental health and addiction services and is proving to have a positive impact on service users' experiences.
Sensory modulation involves supporting and guiding people (often in a designated sensory room/area) to gain skills in self-management and changing emotional states by using sight, sounds, smells, movement and items such as weighted blankets, dogs and/or massage chairs. It enables individuals to learn self-soothing techniques and/or change their current emotional and behavioural responses to a stressful situation.
The report Sensory modulation in acute mental health wards suggests sensory modulation is a very useful, easy to learn set of skills that is well regarded by service users, and supports clinicians to use best practices.
Te Pou has supported district health boards (DHBs) to embed sensory modulation. Many DHBs now have sensory rooms and use sensory modulation effectively. This work continues to develop in inpatient units. The requirement now is to expand these skills within the crisis/home-based treatment phase. Cognitive behavioural intervention training has also been completed by many staff across New Zealand. These tools support a trauma informed approach to service delivery.
Te Pou conducted a stocktake to capture a snap-shot of sensory modulation work that is going on nationally amongst the DHBs in 2017. This report considers the aspects of sensory modulation that are working well, identifies areas that need improvement and proposes recommendations for future research and practice development of sensory modulation.
This document summarises the Te Pou research trial and shows how the early evidence from this trial has led to further Te Pou work.
A factsheet on sensory modulation, and Te Pou's work in this area.
This factsheet provides an overview of sensory modulation for planners and funders.
This resource has information for services on implementing the sensory modulation approach.
This report describes the results from a qualitative study that looks at the use of sensory modulation in four acute inpatient units.
This resource shows the development of sensory modulation, its theoretical base, and the evidence supporting its use.
This resource looks at using other health workers to deliver sensory modulation within sensory rooms.
24 August 2017
Auckland University of Technology (AUT) Senior Lecturer Dr Daniel Sutton has recently received a Health Research Council grant for research into sensory modulation as an approach for people experiencing anxiety.Choose which list to add this to, or create a new one!