What Are Sensory Toys for Adults with Disabilities?
Sensory toys for adults are designed to help relieve symptoms of sensory processing disorders, such as autism and ADHD, as well as other conditions like dementia. An adult might use sensory items to help regulate their emotions at home, at work or on the go, and they can help with anything from calming to improving focus or developing motor skills.
So, what kinds of sensory toys are there, and which abilities are they best suited to?
Best Sensory Items for Adults
Bubble Tubes
Bubble tubes are a fantastic sensory toy for people of all ages and provide a relaxing, soothing experience through their bubbling sounds and soft lighting.
- The Calming LED Bubble Tube is quite simple and uses a variety of coloured lights to create a relaxing experience for the user; it’s the perfect calming sensory toy for adults with disabilities.
- The Mini LED Bubble Tube is also practical for keeping at home and taking with you when you travel. Set it up in a hotel room, cabin or anywhere else with an appropriate plug socket!
- The IRIS and Touch LED Bubble Tubes are a brilliant way to enjoy the interactive elements of the soothing bubbles with an IRIS controller. Customise the lighting in a sensory space or let it cycle softly through changing colours.
- For those who prefer extra multisensory benefits, the Calming LED Bubble Tube Softie not only stimulates visual and auditory input, but also comes with a cushioned softie to sit on. This bubble tube is ideal for keeping at home to unwind!
Soft Play
Soft play equipment can be reassuring and comforting, allowing a safe and comfortable environment for kinetic stimulation and exploration. Just like our bubble tubes, our soft play sensory toys for adults cater to a variety of different needs and preferences.
- The colourful patchwork effect of the Multi-Coloured Bean Bag makes for great visual stimulation while also being soft and calming. This is a great sensory item for adults who crave the sensory stimulation of alternative seating, such as those with ADHD.
- Soft floor pads provide a safe and soft surface for adult sensory rooms and are especially beneficial for adults who crave tactile soothing. For even more relaxation, opt for a sensory waterbed, which provides a highly relaxing experience, perfect for soothing agitation or anxiety.
- The Fibre Optic Tunnel is a lovely place for adults to retreat to when they might be feeling overwhelmed, especially with soft floor pads laid underneath. Crawl through or lie a blanket underneath to create a soothing, starry sky that users can touch!
- Also particularly effective in dark spaces, the LED Fibre Optic Softie allows adults to sit comfortably while enjoying the tactile and visual experience of handling the softly-lit fibre optic strands.
UV Toys
Perfect for visual processing difficulties, UV products inspire visual interaction and development, including hand-eye coordination, in an engaging way.
- The 2500mm strands and pivotal wall-mounted bracket allow the UV Fibre Optic Wall Cascade to be accessible to wheelchair users or those with reduced mobility. The strands help to create a tranquil environment, cycling slowly through eight different colours.
- UV Strands allow for portable tactile stimulation. Sold by the metre, they are a versatile sensory tool that can be used in many different applications.
- The beauty of the Fibre Optic Bore is that it can also be used underwater in a sensory bath or hydrotherapy pool. The glow passes through the tube, and there is a focused light at the end which is great for distraction or soothing while bathing or hydrotherapy.
Miscellaneous Sensory Items
Tactile sensory toys for adults with disabilities encourage them to engage with touch and texture to serve as a bridge between adults and their environment.
- Fibre Optic Carpet offers fantastic flooring for a sensory room, letting users get close to the starry lights and feel soothed and relaxed. The stars can even twinkle and change colour!
- Pressure mats can help improve dexterity skills for hands and feet, ideal for adults with reduced mobility. In addition, switch adaptors are available to make the pressure mats compatible with most Experia products.
- A sensory projector can turn any room into a sensory room, and our Aurora LED projector can be wall-mounted or stand on any flat, sturdy surface for portable use. Use effect wheels to create a jungle, firework display or even outer space world that’s fully immersive.
- Aromatherapy can help create feelings of calm, and is an ideal sensory item for adults with dementia, as it can help promote memories and recognition. Our Aroma Starter Kit contains amazing scents like bergamot, lavender, geranium Egyptian and grapefruit, or our food-related aroma oils come in over 70 different tasty scents!
- Combining sensory lighting with soft music can create a much more relaxing environment, helping to calm and soothe adults who are agitated or upset.
We hope you feel better equipped to choose the right sensory items for adults. If you’re interested in purchasing some sensory toys for adults with disabilities, or if you would like to create your own sensory room, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team at Experia and ask about our free sensory room design service!
