Clinical Utility of Multisensory Environments for People With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Scoping...

Area of Science:

• Healthcare accessibility for individuals with disabilities
• Clinical psychology and behavioral interventions
• Occupational therapy and sensory integration

Background:

• Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) face barriers to healthcare, including challenging behaviors during appointments.
• These behaviors can prevent individuals with IDD from receiving recommended health screenings.
• Multisensory environments (MSEs) are proposed as a potential intervention to mitigate these challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of studies examining the within-session effects of MSEs on individuals with IDD.
• To determine the clinical utility of MSEs for improving healthcare experiences for people with IDD.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted using Summon and Google Scholar for studies published between January 1, 2000, and August 1, 2018.
• Studies were included if they reported data on the within-session effects of MSE interventions on individuals with IDD.
• Thirteen studies with varying levels of evidence (Level I-IV) were included in the review.

Main Results:

• MSE interventions showed preliminary support for reducing anxiety and challenging behaviors in individuals with IDD during clinical care.
• Effects were observed across various domains, including maladaptive behaviors, positive behaviors, distress, activity levels, and alertness.
• The review identified a range of evidence quality, with 4 studies providing Level I evidence.

Conclusions:

• MSEs show potential as a clinical tool to support individuals with IDD, particularly those with sensory sensitivities.
• MSEs may help improve patient comfort and facilitate necessary medical procedures.
• A multidisciplinary approach involving medical providers and occupational therapists is highlighted for supporting this population.