Staff Training on Sensory Accommodations in Acute and Inpatient Care: A Scoping Review.

Abstract

Background: Sensory overload can worsen communication, cooperation with care, and overall safety and experience, prompting growing interest in staff training to deliver sensory accommodations as routine clinical practice.

Objective: This scoping review aimed to map the literature on staff training interventions for sensory accommodations in acute and inpatient settings, describing training content and delivery, targeted populations and settings, reported outcomes, and implementation challenges.

Methods: Following PRISMA-ScR guidance, databases were searched from inception to July 2025, supplemented by grey literature. Eligible sources described staff education/training intended to improve sensory-friendly care in emergency, inpatient, or comparable acute care contexts. A total of 2978 records were screened after duplicate removal, with 22 sources included in the final synthesis.

Results: Four themes emerged: (1) training emphasized core sensory-friendly competencies, including recognition of sensory triggers, environmental modification, predictability, and communication strategies; (2) multi-component programs integrating training with environmental and operational supports were more commonly recommended than isolated educational approaches; (3) reported outcomes were primarily experiential, with limited evaluation of clinical or safety outcomes; and (4) sustainability depended on systems integration, ongoing training, and co-design with lived experience.

Conclusions: Staff training for sensory accommodations is an increasingly common strategy across acute and inpatient care, but the evidence base is heterogeneous and often under-evaluated. Programs that combine training with practical tools, environmental changes, and implementation infrastructure appear more durable than education alone.