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TABLE 3
Clinical Evaluation of Therapeutic Interventions
table also shows that <strong>the</strong> question with regard
to evaluation was not answered in a small
number of cases.
In addition to <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>rapeutic interventions
provided by <strong>the</strong> questionnaire, facilities mentioned
ano<strong>the</strong>r 21 used in <strong>the</strong>ir own daily
practice. These range from one that was
adapted from existing <strong>the</strong>rapeutic interventions
(a combination of Haptonomy and Sensory
Integrative Therapy) to 15 that were ‘self
invented’ (for example, an intervention called
<strong>the</strong> ‘Spoil Room’) and 7 existing <strong>the</strong>rapeutic
interventions that were not included in our
questionnaire. With <strong>the</strong> exception of two: foot
reflex <strong>the</strong>rapy, which was mentioned twice,
and <strong>the</strong> Halliwick concept (a method of motor
rehabilitation in water, Lambeck & Stanat,
2000), which was mentioned five times, <strong>the</strong>se
o<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>rapeutic interventions are only mentioned
by one respondent.
Conclusion and Discussion
Evaluated Directly
Our research included 16 <strong>the</strong>rapeutic interventions
of which 14 were used in <strong>the</strong> participating
facilities. Some are ra<strong>the</strong>r frequently
used in Dutch and Flemish practice, with
Snoezelen, Sensory Integrative Therapy,
Equine Therapy, Basic Stimulation and Aroma<strong>the</strong>rapy
being most frequently used. However,
<strong>the</strong> application of <strong>the</strong>se interventions
End of
Day Weekly O<strong>the</strong>r
Not
Evaluated Missing
Aroma<strong>the</strong>rapy (15) 9 3 3 3 4 2
Basic Stimulation (19) 17 4 1 12 2
CranioSacral Ther. (2) 2
Discrete Trial Train. (2) 1 1 1
Gentle Teaching (8) 2 1 1 6
Haptonomy (8) 5 1 2 2 2 1
Equine Therapy (21) 9 3 1 5 8 4
SIT (24) 22 3 1 2 16 2
Shantala Massage (14) 8 3 1 4 6
Sherborne (13) 9 2 2 5 4
Snoezelen (41) 21 2 7 12 20
Therapeutic Touch (2) 2 2
Tibetan Cymbals (11) 6 2 1 1 2 3 2
Watsu Therapy (3) 2 2 1
338 / Education and Training in Developmental Disabilities-September 2008
without feedback on effectiveness occurs too
often. Nearly a third of all <strong>the</strong>rapeutic interventions
used are not evaluated in writing at
all. Of those that are evaluated in practice,
more than half are only evaluated monthly or
even less often.
Our study has several limitations with respect
to <strong>the</strong> estimated use of <strong>the</strong>se <strong>the</strong>rapeutic
interventions. Firstly, we obtained information
from one member of staff only, which
may lead to an under or overestimation of <strong>the</strong>
use of <strong>the</strong>rapeutic interventions. However,
our respondents were all able to provide an
expert judgment, given <strong>the</strong>ir position within
<strong>the</strong>ir organization and <strong>the</strong>ir specialist interest
in people with PIMD. Secondly, no explicit
rules were given for <strong>the</strong> use of <strong>the</strong> intervention.
This left <strong>the</strong> respondents room for interpretation.
It may very well be that in one
setting <strong>the</strong> burning of incense in <strong>the</strong> residential
care unit is understood as ‘aroma<strong>the</strong>rapy’
for 10 people while in ano<strong>the</strong>r setting staff use
specific oils or scents for clients in individual
sessions. The possibility of different interpretations
might have led to a bias in <strong>the</strong> results
of this study.
As for <strong>the</strong> five most popular <strong>the</strong>rapeutic
interventions, only one has been subjected to
a number of carefully designed studies,
namely ‘Snoezelen.’ Research has been undertaken
with respect to <strong>the</strong> effects of