The way a person views the world is colored by the effects of the light sources in theirenvironment. Natural lighting, fluorescent lighting, lamp/desk lighting, and secondary glare offer different levels of visual stimulation and for some people, this can make a huge difference in their perceptions and mood.
There is a shopping mall that I avoid at all costs because it was designed with flashing neon store signs, endless overhead fluorescent lighting, and a loud echoing atrium with skylights that adds so much stimulation that I always end up a cranky shopper.
I’m certainly not the only consumer having this aversive reaction to the mall environment, and yet most people are unaware that the design of these living, working, and community spaces impact how we function (or not), feel, and interact.
Before we get into what kind of sensory lighting you could be looking to use, let's dive more into why sensory lighting is important.
Why is Sensory Lighting Important to Consider?
Studies have shown that natural lighting has a positive impact on one’s mood, perceptions, health, and attitude.
Research has also supported that dynamic lighting design (lighting that changes with the students and tasks) supports learning!
Now consider your workplace or your child’s school classroom. How is their lighting designed? How is the classroom configured in relation to those light sources? Is the room you’re working or learning is designed to promote your availability for learning?
When we look at learning or working environments, there are many aspects of lighting design to consider:
- The type of the light bulb (fluorescent, LED or full-spectrum bulbs)
- The placement of the light (overhead or on a desk/table/floor)
- The type of flooring that may act as a reflecting surface (tile or carpet)
- The location of natural light sources in relation to you (windows, glass doors)
- The task at hand (computer screen work, reading a book)
- Potential sources of glare (whiteboard, computers, reflective surfaces)
As an assistive technology specialist, I often look to make simple environmental changes that may be the key to helping a person function better.
As an occupational therapist, my perspective on lighting comes from more of a sensory background. Both inform my views on environmental lighting and how to best promote participation, interaction, and success!
Light Sensitivity and Sensory Processing Disorder
Chances are that when you went shopping for your living room lamp or kitchen table light fixture, you were more concerned with aesthetics than the visual effect of the actual light. Most people won’t think twice about the visual impact of the light unless you or someone you know experiences visual sensitivity, migraines, or a vision-related illness.
If you have a child withsensory processing dysfunction, light sensitivity is a common symptom that he may experience. Light sensitivity is something we talked about in our Managing Meltdowns articlebecause it can contribute to sensory overload. Children with ADHD and autism are prone to sensory processing difficulties which may include light sensitivity.
People who have experienced a brain injury or concussion often report light sensitivities as well. Because the brain needs to process the visual information, and brain injury can impact the way visual information, light, and patterns are interpreted.
Symptoms of light sensitivity can include:
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Sleepiness
- Eyestrain
- Fatigue
- Discomfort
Sensory Lighting Accommodations
Every brain is different, every environment is different, and everyone's responseis also different. So when considering how to accommodate your sensory lighting needs, there are a few possibilities you’ll want to explore. Ultimately, how you decide to change your lighting is a matter of preference in what adjustments you find helpful.
- Reduce overhead lighting whenever possible and use tabletop or desk lamps with full-spectrum light bulbs
- Keep computer screens away from windows where glare can become a problem
- If your flooring is tile or a reflective hard surface, consider an area rug to reduce the effects of light reflection and glare
- Explore inverting the colors on your computer display or adjusting for brightness
- Color filters like Irlen products can be used over electronic screens and on paper to filter light.
- Fluorescent light filters for classrooms act like drapes or shades that swag under fluorescent light coverings to soften the effects of fluorescent light bulbs.
Takeaways
How you light your environment is a matter of personal preference. Ideally, your environment should offer multiple light sources that will flexibly meet your needs as your tasks change. The light you use to read a book on the couch should be different than the light you use in your clothes closet, for example.
Often times, lighting can be apart of a bigger sensory diet that includes the use of other sensory input tools, like weighted blankets or weighted vests.
Lighting impacts learning, mood, and perception, so if there’s a chance that you can make some changes with subtle lighting accommodations, give it a try!
Let us know what dynamic lighting designs you’re using in your spaces!
Resources
Fielding, Randall. "Learning, Lighting and Color: Lighting Design for Schools and Universities in the 21st Century." DesignShare (NJ1). DesignShare. 4937 Morgan Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55409-2251. Tel: 612-929-6129; Tel: 612-929-3520; Web Site: Http://www.designshare.com, 30 Nov. 2005. Web. 01 Aug. 2017. <https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED497664>.
Howard, Jacqueline. "How Just The Right Lighting May Improve Learning In Classrooms."The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 15 Aug. 2016. Web. 01 Aug. 2017. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/lighting-boost-learning-concentration_us_5720cb14e4b0b49df6a9b73e>.
"Lighting and Discomfort in the Classroom." Lighting and Discomfort in the Classroom - ScienceDirect. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Aug. 2017. <http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272494408001011>.
"Make Your Classroom Lighting Learner Friendly." Susan Fitzell. N.p., 26 Apr. 2017. Web. 01 Aug. 2017. <http://susanfitzell.com/make-classroom-lighting-learner-friendly/>.
"The Irlen® Institute." Irlen. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Aug. 2017. <http://irlen.com/>.
Related Sensory Posts You May Like
- Our 10 Favorite Sensory Seeking Activities
- The Ultimate List of Sensory Toys
Comments will be approved before showing up.
