What is the vestibular system?

The vestibular system is a powerful system!

The vestibular system is found in your inner ear. You have two, one on either side of your head. The cool thing about the vestibular system is it is activated by movement of the head through space. This can be movement back and forth, up and down, or in a rotary movement. It is the first sense to develop in utero and is also how the fetus knows to invert themselves into the birth canal. By the fifth month of gestation, the vestibular system is typically well-developed.  Additionally, the movement of the mother’s body provides a great deal of information to the growing fetal brain. If a pregnant mother is placed on bed rest, or if a baby is born prematurely, the baby’s access to this important movement can be reduced. Furthermore, this can result in a disruption to a child’s development.

Fortunately, occupational therapy and early intervention can help educate parents on how to provide the input needed to develop these systems.

The Vestibular System is our very own Internal GPS

Many people are surprised to learn that the vestibular system can affect our ability to pay attention, control our behaviors, and manage our impulsivity. It is also linked to physical functioning, such as posture, balance, movement, and coordination. It’s your internal GPS system. Close your eyes and touch your toes with your legs straight. You’re able to tell which way is up even when your eyes are closed because of your vestibular system.

Clumsy? Constantly bumping into things? This is in part due to your vestibular system (and your visual system and your proprioceptive system).

Have a hard time learning new motor actions? You’re most likely having trouble with your vestibular system.

Love golf, but your timing is off? Vestibular system.

Easily get lost? Vestibular system is off.

So many of our everyday activities are influenced by the vestibular system.

Here are some suggestions for activities to help improve or enhance vestibular functioning for different age groups.

For infants, ages, 0 to 6 months:

• Infant swings
• Babywearing
• Rocking in cradling
• Tummy time, lying on the back or, lying on the side.
• Limiting the baby’s time in containers, such as a bouncy seat, car seat, etc. to 2 hours maximum per day.

As babies mature, their bodies will be ready for more movement. (6-12mos)

• Rolling the baby on tummy over a large exercise ball
• Rolling on the floor
• Rocking chairs or rocking horses
• Swinging while sitting on the lap of a parent
• Swinging in a supportive baby swing
• Swinging in a hammock

Between 12 and 24 months your child may be ready for using:

• Age-appropriate toddler slides
• Sitting and bouncing on a ball
• Using a mini trampoline with a handle
• Dancing
• Baby yoga
• Wheelbarrow walking
• Walking around on grass or down gentle slopes.

Between 24 and 36 months Vestibular activities may include:

• Hopping
• Skipping
• Using a hippity-hop ball (which is a bouncing ball with a handle),
• Rolling across the floor, like a log
• Rolling down a hill
• Riding on push/ scoot toys.

Now that your baby is over three years old, he, or she may be ready for:

• Tricycle
• Scooter with a helmet
• Strider bike with a helmet
• Sledding
• Singing songs with motions (such as head, shoulders, knees, and toes)
• Using a tire swing
• Going on playground equipment
• Playing the Twister game
• Getting involved in community-based activities, such as gymnastics, karate, or swimming. 

Many children like to spin. However, this needs to be supervised and limited. Excessive spinning is disorganizing for the brain and can cause delayed sensory overload or dysregulation. It is important for parents to monitor spinning. limit to one revolution per second with a maximum of 10 revolutions. Then go to the other side (opposite direction).

Angie Voss Understanding your Child’s Sensory Signals Edition 3

Watching for signals in your child’s reaction to vestibular input can be very powerful and important. Nausea, headaches, flushing of the skin, Darkness under the eyes, and even a low-grade fever can occur.

If the child says “stop”, it is important to stop.

It is important to watch for signs of sensory overload, especially if the child is unable to verbally communicate.

The vestibular system is a very powerful sensory system that influences so many things. It does not work alone!!

Contact me for more great ways to help with your Child’s Vestibular System needs!