University of Southern California
University of Southern California
NICU lab identity

SENSE
Supporting & Enhancing NICU Sensory Experiences

Supporting and Enhancing NICU Sensory Experiences (SENSE) is a comprehensive approach to ensuring multi-modal positive sensory exposures across hospitalization for high-risk infants in the NICU. The SENSE program provides education to engage families in providing developmentally appropriate positive sensory exposures to optimize outcomes for their infant(s). Topics of education include: medical terminology, fetal development in the final months of pregnancy, the sensory environment of the NICU, sensory development, reading infant cues, identifying readiness for sensory exposures, how to provide different sensory exposures, and a week-by-week guide on specific doses and timing of sensory exposures to ensure consistent and developmentally appropriate delivery of positive sensory experiences at each postmenstrual age. The sensory interventions are designed to be provided by parents, but the medical team and/or volunteers can also be engaged to ensure the sensory needs of each infant are met.

In addition to the education materials and week-by-week guide, log sheets for parents, the medical team, and volunteers are provided to track the positive sensory exposures that are implemented each week. Although specific doses of positive sensory exposures are identified in the guide, it can be individualized for each infant based on the preferences of the family and/or the medical status/tolerance of the infant. An assessment of sensory tolerance is also included in the SENSE program package. The weekly assessment, which can be conducted more often when needed, aims to ensure that the infant tolerates the week-by-week sensory exposures as described, and it also provides guidance on how to identify adaptations to sensory exposures when necessary. The assessment is designed to be conducted by a physical or occupational therapist with neonatal expertise or by another designated health care professional.

Description and Rationale

SENSE Program Development

References

Meet the Team and Copyright Information

SENSE Training

Are you interested in training on the SENSE program implementation? Learn more about upcoming training opportunities.

Contact

For more Information, please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Preview SENSE

Download a preview of the SENSE parent education materials.

Purchase SENSE

The SENSE user fee is a one-time $200 non-recurring fee that is paid to use the program. Once the fee is paid, we will ship physical copies of the English materials (1 implementation guide with instructions for accessing the online materials, laminated week-by-week sensory guides to be used at the bedside, 1 parent education book, and a QR code sheet). Purchase of the SENSE program includes access to download the materials. The QR codes link to a web-based version of the parent education materials that also contain embedded videos of the interventions. Parent education materials are provided for download in English and several other languages. If you are a NICU parent interested in the SENSE program, reach out to your provider to access the materials via a QR code or see the option to purchase a parent education booklet below.

Supporting & Enhancing NICU Sensory Experiences (SENSE) program
$200

Purchase additional SENSE materials

Preprinted parent education books are available for purchase, for those hospitals that have already purchased the program. These are not intended to be used without careful attention to safety and implementation, as contained in the implementation package received upon purchase of the SENSE program.

Additional parent education books (English)
1 copy, $15
2 to 150 copies, $12 each
151 to 499 copies, $9 each
500 or more copies, $7 each

Copies:
Total: $15

Additional parent education books (Spanish)
1 copy, $15
2 to 150 copies, $12 each
151 to 499 copies, $9 each
500 or more copies, $7 each

Copies:
Total: $15