Presentation Information

Parent-Driven Sensory Exposures in the NICU: The Development and Impact of the SENSE Program

• Speaker: Bobbi Pineda , PhD OTR/L, CNT
• Presentation Type:
• Duration: 60 Mins
• Credits:

Abstract:

The Supporting and Enhancing NICU Sensory Experiences (SENSE) program was developed to improve the NICU environment and optimize infant and parent outcomes. It was developed using a stepwise, systematic, and scientific process that leveraged evidence on positive sensory interventions in the NICU and expert input. The SENSE program is intended to be parent-delivered and is a comprehensive approach to ensure appropriate multi-modal positive sensory exposures across hospitalization for high-risk infants in the NICU. The core concepts of the program are that it is evidence based, the interventions change across postmenstrual age, interventions are done in a way that respond to the infant’s behavioral cues and what their current needs are, parents are the ideal providers of positive sensory exposures, and simple low-cost exposures can be integrated into the daily NICU flow. During this presentation, we will discuss the rationale for improving the early sensory environment, describe the core components of the SENSE program, identify research done on the SENSE program, and discuss implementation strategies.