Sensory Processing: The Vestibular System
The vestibular system, located deep within the inner ear, is responsible for our sense of balance, spatial orientation, and coordination. It is the foundation upon which we build our movement skills, enabling us to navigate through the world with confidence and ease. The vestibular system is the first system to develop, at just 5 months gestation! It continues to mature after birth, but this can present a big challenge for premature babies. The Moro reflex, where the baby startles and flings its arms out to the sides, is present in babies born at 32-weeks. This is a protective response to help the baby stay safe!
Comprised of the vestibular organs and their connecting pathways, the vestibular system detects changes in head position and movement, allowing us to adjust our body accordingly. It provides crucial sensory input to the brain which is necessary for smooth, coordinated movements. When the vestibular system functions optimally, we can effortlessly navigate through our environment with grace and confidence. However, when this system experiences dysfunction or is affected by injury, it can lead to difficulties with balance, spatial orientation, and even impact overall quality of life.
Vestibular dysfunction in children refers to difficulties in processing and integrating information received from the vestibular system. This dysfunction can manifest in various ways, such as poor balance, clumsiness, frequent falls, and difficulty with motor planning. Children with vestibular dysfunction often exhibit avoidance behaviors, such as avoiding playground equipment or fast movements. Additionally, they may have challenges with visual tracking and maintaining attention, which can impact their performance in school and other daily activities.
Occupational therapist use a variety of techniques to either meet a child’s sensory threshold or desensitize them when vestibular input is avoided. This is a complex topic, so these recommendations are very broad and general. Generally speaking, swinging on a swing, even in linear patterns, can impact the body for 6-8 hours! Which means, if the vestibular sensory system is overwhelmed, you may be seeing the aftermath hours later about something unrelated (i.e. Mom you’re talking too loud! My clothes are itchy! You didn’t heat up my food long enough!). If your child seems unfazed by spinning and never seems to get dizzy, this could also be a sign that the vestibular system isn’t working properly! Linear movements (forward/backward, up/down) tend to be very calming and regulating. However, rotational spinning should be monitored and controlled. Again, if you miss the threshold, the child could be dysregulated for hours! So instead, it is recommended to limit spins to 10 one direction, STOP for a few seconds, then 10 spins the other. If your child seeks rotational input, try having them lay on their bellies. You could use a spinning stool or office chair. The vestibular system may be more sensitive to movement in this plane.
So, what suggestions do I have for vestibular input activities? Luckily there’s a lot, and you can get creative! Jumping on a trampoline (or hopping like a rabbit), climbing, crawling, monkey bars, swinging, bouncing on a yoga ball, riding a bike, and animal walks all help provide vestibular input. If you read my last post, some of these double as proprioceptive as well! If you’re looking for a swing, I recommend something mounted on two hinges like the one below. However, if you have a child who loves pressure (proprioceptive) and likes spinning, these Lycra pod swings are wonderful. Again, the spinning needs to be monitored, but they provide excellent input. For younger kids, these tunnels provide a variety input from visual to vestibular. They are easy to store, and you can easily make an obstacle course with them. And of course, exercise trampolines have a variety of benefits from proprioceptive to vestibular!
See more recommendations here!
