The Vestibular System
The vestibular system refers to structures within the inner ear (the semi-circular canals) that detect movement and changes in the position of the head. For example, the vestibular system tells you when your head is upright or tilted (even with your eyes closed).
Dysfunction within this system may show itself in two different ways: Some children may be hypersensitive (overly sensitive) to vestibular stimulation and have fearful reactions to ordinary movement activities (e.g., swings, slides, ramps, inclines). They may also have trouble learning to climb or descend stairs or hills; and they may be apprehensive when walking or crawling on uneven or unstable surfaces. As a result, they seem fearful in space. This over-sensitivity to movement input is often described as gravitational insecurity. On the other extreme, the child may actively seek very intense sensory experiences such as excessive body whirling, jumping, and/or spinning. This type of child demonstrates signs of a hyposensitivity (decreased sensitivity) to vestibular input; that is, they are trying continuously to stimulate their vestibular systems. |
Possible Signs of Vestibular processing deficits:
Vestibular Input (Over or under sensitive to balance and movement sensations)
CHARACTERISTICS OF VESTIBULAR DYSFUNCTION
Hypersensitivity:
MUSCLE TONE IS AFFECTED BY VESTIBULAR INPUT
Low tone:
Getting a swing that is hung from a single point will give her more effective and stronger, longer lasting vestibular input. Swinging on a swing is the ideal source of Vestibular input, if done for 15 minutes on a swing can last up to 8 hours in the central nervous system, the other types of input only last 2 hours or so, so they must be done more often. It is highly recommend that swinging for at least two 15 minute sessions a day one first thing in the a.m. and again in the afternoon. This will help give the calming and organized vestibular input that is needed to help keep a child responding to sensory input appropriately. May help to swing and rock gently before bedtime as well if sleeping is a problem.
- Constantly moving
- Difficulty with typical motor actions (riding a bike, climbing stairs)
- Never getting dizzy OR getting dizzy very easily
- Fearful of playground equipment
- Fear of having head upside down or backward
- Thrill seeker
- Full of excess energy
Vestibular Input (Over or under sensitive to balance and movement sensations)
- May seem to be a “thrill seeker” (i.e. jumping from high places, driving fast)
- May be sedentary or cautious or hesitant to take risks
- Difficulty coordinating movements of the eyes
- Trouble staying seated
- Constantly leans head on hand or arm
- Prefers to lie down than sit upright
- Feels seasick, when riding in car, boat, train, airplane, escalator or elevator
- Extreme loose or tense grip on pencil or scissors
- Enjoys being upside down
- Easily looses balance when riding a bike or climbing stairs
CHARACTERISTICS OF VESTIBULAR DYSFUNCTION
Hypersensitivity:
- Dislike playground activities that move: swinging, spinning, sliding
- Gets carsick easily
- Hesitates to take risks, doesn't like to try new movement activities
- Primal Terror to falling off something above ground
- Avoids walking on curbs, steps, holds on for dear life when above ground
- Feel threatened when head is inverted, tilted, or spun
- Fearful when moved, sliding chair from someone else
- Needs to move all the time to function, trouble sitting still or staying in seat with feet on the floor
- Shakes head, spins, runs, jumps, moves all the time
- Craves intense movement: jumping, climbing, spinning, head upside down
- Does not have post rotary nystagmus after spinning, does not get dizzy
MUSCLE TONE IS AFFECTED BY VESTIBULAR INPUT
Low tone:
- loose and floppy body, poor posture, slumps in chair, humped when standing
- prefers to lie down, slump over desk, lean on hands or head
- sits, hard to wheelbarrow walk on hands
- difficulty with tools, utensils, loose grasp, too light of pressure or too hard
to compensate tires easily with handwriting or cutting - Difficulty catching self when falling
- Too tight of muscle, seems tense and hyper
- Tight grasp, white knuckles, breaks pencil lead or crayons easily
Getting a swing that is hung from a single point will give her more effective and stronger, longer lasting vestibular input. Swinging on a swing is the ideal source of Vestibular input, if done for 15 minutes on a swing can last up to 8 hours in the central nervous system, the other types of input only last 2 hours or so, so they must be done more often. It is highly recommend that swinging for at least two 15 minute sessions a day one first thing in the a.m. and again in the afternoon. This will help give the calming and organized vestibular input that is needed to help keep a child responding to sensory input appropriately. May help to swing and rock gently before bedtime as well if sleeping is a problem.
Other vestibular input options include (remember these are not nearly as effective as swinging linearly from a single suspended point):
- porch swing or hammock outside or in room hang a hammock or swing in doorway
- holding the individual on a large ball, bouncing, rocking back and forth onto hands and feet, rocking gently to calm with their head down towards the floor, give good strong input to hands when coming down to the floor while over the ball. Then walk out onto hands with the ball under them then under their feet
- rocking in chair or swinging in a blanket (two people hold on either side) & gliders
- rocking on all fours on a water bed mattress filled with air
- wrapping in blanket (weighted blankets are best) and rolling
- dancing, gymnastics, karate, marching, power walking with weights, aerobics for children, horseback riding
- water beds