The Sense: Moving
(Vestibular Processing)
What is the Vestibular System?
The vestibular system in our inner ear helps us to figure out what position our head is in, and if we are moving. This system is important in our ability to accurately utilize other sensory input. Organization of this system allows us to understand and relate to the world around us.
What would I see if my child has difficulty processing vestibular information?
Under reactive Vestibular System- decreased sensitivity to movement sensations.
This child may:
o Have poor desk posture
o Not get dizzy unless spinning is in excess....and sometimes not even then.
o Be accident prone, clumsy
o Have poor endurance, tires easily, lethargic
o Need movement to maintain optimal level of functioning
o Seeks out all kinds of movement, in constant motion
o Twirls/spins self regularly
o Rock in chair or on floor
Over Reactive Vestibular System- increased sensitivity to movement sensations
This child may:
o Be intolerant of or insecure about movement experiences
o Avoid or fear movement
o Get carsick easily
o Dislike playground activities, prefers sedentary activities
o Prefer to keep head in an upright position even when bending over or leaning
o Hold onto walls and/or banisters
o Become overly excited after movement
o Turn with body to look at you rather than just their head
o Become anxious when his/her feet are off the ground
What can I do to help support my child at home?
q Give your children movement breaks during longs periods of quiet activity, such as homework.
q Alerting movements are rapid and can quickly change direction. You can spin a child in a swing and stop unexpectedly, singing “Round and round and round we go, where we’ll stop, no one knows.”
q Calming movements are slow and rhythmical. Rocking gently in a parent’s arms, in a rocking chair, on a seesaw, or just back and forth in a swing can all be calming. Try to keep these movements going in one direction.
q Different head positions affect different sensory receptors in the brains. Give your child the opportunity to explore different types of movements in several positions. For example, allow a child to normally sit in a swing or lie with his chest on the swing to run and return. Many activities can be done in different positions without the need for swings and other suspended equipment.
q Incorporate new positions when completing familiar activities, such as lying on the ottoman while putting together a favorite puzzle.
q Supervised outdoor play is great to introduce movement, including the childhood games we played such as tag, red rover, etc.
q Organize play activities so that movement is introduced to even quiet play, such as placing checkers on the floor but the board on the table. This way, the child must do a movement activity by bending down to retrieve the pieces.
q Animal walks are a great movement activity, with new animal walks, body positions change to create stomping elephants, slithering snakes, playful monkeys, etc.
GENERAL RULE:
o Slow repetitive and rhythmic activities that provide movement in one plane tend to be calming and soothing (linear swinging, gentle bouncing, rocking, etc.)
o Fast and/or erratic movement including spinning, changing directions, stop/starts, moving body positions, changing speeds, etc. is often alerting and/or disorganizing.
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