Currently, NDIS providers are struggling to reduce the use of restrictive practices in service delivery. A report by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission showed that there were more than a one million incidents of unauthorised restraints in 2020 – 2021, a 240% increase from the previous 12 months. The restraints included use of sedation, strapping down a person or depriving them of their personal belongings. (Henriques-Gomes, 2021 report of NDIS quality and safeguards commission)

As described in Part 1 of this blog series, Sensory Modulation is an intervention shown to be effective for reducing restrictive practice. Sensory Modulation can be defined as “using your senses to change the way you feel” (O’ Sullivan, Fitzgibbon 2017). Sensory Modulation interventions involve:

• identifying problematic, or overwhelming sensory stimuli and developing strategies to reduce the input or promote self-regulation, with the goal of supporting the individual to continue to be able to engage in occupations.

• Identifying calming and soothing sensory strategies to prevent the use of and/or be an alternatives to restrictive practices.

In part 1 of this 2-part series, the current evidence for using Sensory Modulation will be discussed. A fictional case study will highlight these issues. Note: Trigger warning for this article as behaviours of concern are discussed, such as self harm and restrictive practices.

Sensory Modulation for Self-Regulation

Sensory modulation approaches involve the provision of sensory-based therapy tools and/or the creation of appropriate environments that engage the user’s senses to reduce the build-up of agitation and prevent the escalation of aggression (eg Chalmers et al 2012, Lee et al 2010). (O Sullivan and Fitzgibbon, 2017).