Environments and the impact on clinical communication with Elana Moore
Environments are never neutral- they actively shape how people feel, behave and function. Wherever you live or work, sensory factors such as noise, lighting, layout and overall sensory load influence out ability to regulate, our attention and the ability to engage with others.
This session explores how sensory environments can either support or hinder everyday functioning in care settings. Drawing on sensory science and clinical insight, it will highlight how sensory awareness and small environmental changes can have a significant impact on wellbeing, clinical interactions and outcomes.
Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how to recognise sensory barriers and make practical, realistic adjustments to create environments that better support both staff and those they work with.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand how sensory environments influence communication and regulation
- Recognise environmental factors that may support or disrupt interaction
- Reframe communication as shaped by both people and environment
- Identify practical changes to support communication through sensory-aware design
Meet our Experts
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Elana Moore, PhD, is an occupational therapist specialising in sensory processing in relation to the person, occupation, and environment. Her clinical work spans inpatient secure mental health hospitals and SEN schools in both the UK and the USA. She has experience working as both a sole clinician and a team manager to improve environments for service user wellbeing.
Her doctoral research explored how sensory processing shapes mental health, regulation, and everyday functioning, providing an evidence base for change. She combines clinical expertise in sensory processing and environmental design to translate complex sensory science into practical strategies that support communication, wellbeing, and inclusion.
Jayne qualified as an OT in 1996 and has a wide range of clinical experience in acute and community settings. Her recent experience has been in Community Equipment Stores providing training and support to prescribers and commissioners.
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