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Neurodevelopment and Gross Motor Function Outcomes in Children at Risk or Diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy using
Ameerah Ali1, Surini Yusoff1, Wan Mohd Aiman Wan Ab Rahman1,2
1Department of Paediatrics, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kelantan, Malaysia.
The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences : MJMS
|July 30, 2026
Summary
Neurodevelopmental therapy in a Snoezelen multisensory room significantly improved neurodevelopment and gross motor function in infants at risk of cerebral palsy. This 12-week intervention showed positive outcomes for children receiving specialized sensory stimulation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurorehabilitation
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Sensory Integration Therapy
Background:
- Snoezelen multisensory rooms offer sensory stimulation for developmental progress in children.
- Cerebral palsy (CP) is a condition affecting motor function and development.
- Early intervention is crucial for managing CP and optimizing outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of neurodevelopmental therapy in a Snoezelen room on children at risk of or diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
- To assess changes in neurodevelopmental and gross motor function following a 12-week intervention.
- To determine the efficacy of Snoezelen therapy as an adjunct to conventional neurodevelopmental treatment.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 20 infants (aged 3-24 months) diagnosed with or at risk of CP completed a 12-week neurodevelopmental therapy program in a Snoezelen room.
- Neurodevelopment was assessed using the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE).
- Gross motor function was evaluated using the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88) before and after the 12-week intervention, with data analyzed using paired t-tests.
Main Results:
- Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE) scores significantly improved post-therapy (mean increase of 6.05 points, p=0.005).
- Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88) scores demonstrated substantial improvement after 12 weeks of Snoezelen therapy (mean increase of 52.95 points, p<0.001).
- The intervention was well-tolerated, with no adverse events reported.
Conclusions:
- Neurodevelopmental therapy within a Snoezelen multisensory environment leads to significant improvements in neurodevelopmental and gross motor outcomes for children at risk of cerebral palsy.
- Snoezelen therapy offers a valuable therapeutic approach to enhance functional abilities in infants with or at risk of CP.
- This study supports the integration of multisensory room interventions into pediatric neurorehabilitation programs.
