The Vestibular system

The vestibular system is a sensory system that is responsible for providing our brain with information about motion, head position, and spatial orientation; it also is involved with motor functions that allow us to keep our balance, stabilize our head and body during movement, and maintain posture.

The centrally located vestibular system involves neural pathways in the brain that respond to afferent input from the peripheral vestibular system in the inner ear and provide efferent signals that make these reflexes possible. Current data suggest that the vestibular system also plays a role in consciousness, and dysfunctions of the system can cause cognitive deficits related to spatial memory, learning, and navigation

Often, vestibular input is used to stimulate our systems, leaving us feeling energized and ready to go.

Think of the exhilaration you feel when coming off the swings, or perhaps a roller coaster. This is an extreme case, but the example can be used to best describe how our vestibular sense puts us into a state of alert.

In contrast, slow, rhythmical movements also produce vestibular input but can be calming. When we rock a baby to sleep, we are using vestibular input to calm the system.

Individuals can have no difficulties with the vestibular system, while others can be seeking the input, or avoidant to the input.  When someone seeks vestibular input, we refer to them as being underresponsive to vestibular stimuli. Those who avoid the input are known as being overresponsive.

If the vestibular system is under-developed or there are processing problems, you might see surprising difficulties in :

  • Difficulty sitting still (very wiggly)

  • Poor handwriting

  • Poor core strength (w-sitting, hard-time sitting with good posture)

  • Poor balance

  • Poor motor planning (figuring out how to move the body in a new way like riding a bike for the first time)

  • Difficulty problem solving

  • Poor organizational skills

  • Poor attention

  • Clumsiness

overresponsive

In contrast to a under-responsiveness, Over-responsiveness will avoid vestibular input. They are too aware and it is overwhelming. This means they can become distressed if they are on the swings and will avoid activities such as rollercoasters. They are often prone to motion sickness as their brain interprets this movement as threatening, making them feel ill. They may feel disorientated even when going on escalators or the elevator. Those with vestibular sensitivities may show signs of anxiety in their everyday lives. This anxiety comes from being overstimulated by vestibular input on a frequent basis. In general, fast movements tend to be alerting, and slow movements tend to calm the vestibular system.  Vestibular input can be very powerful and can last for a long time after completing different activities (think of a time when you experienced motion sickness and how long it took to go away).

    • Perform gentle stretches especially the neck and back

    • Yoga

      • Inverting the head (some people find this calming, some dislike this position) ie Downward Dog yoga pose

      • Tai Chi

    • Massage

    • Slow rocking sitting on a therapy ball

    • Tuck and Rock – lay on the floor on your back, bring your knees to the chest and wrap arms/hands around knees so body is in a ball shape. Rock back and forth slowly on your back

    • Rocking back and forth on all fours on the floor

    • Animal walks especially if the head is inverted ie bear walk, slow donkey kicks, etc

underresponsive

Under-responsive means that they do not notice and process information received from the senses as well. They often seek extra sensory input or they might need support from others to register sensory input.

Indicators of seeking vestibular input:

FEELING LIKE YOU’RE VIBRATING, MIGHT FIND YOURSELF NEEDING TO SPIN AROUND, YOU MAY FEEL BRAIN FOG AND LIKE YOU’RE SLOW AT PROCESSING INPUT, FOR EXAMPLE, STRUGGLE TO FOLLOW A CONVERSATION

Someone who seeks out vestibular input goes beyond just enjoying spinning or swinging but leads to the individual looking for this movement even during their everyday activities. An individual who rocks on their chair in class, or spins their body from side to side when waiting in line could be showing vestibular seeking behavior. Those with vestibular-seeking behavior may have struggled to concentrate in class or in the workplace as they require additional movement before they are in their optimal band of arousal (i.e. having received enough sensory input to take in and retain information).

    • Swimming

    • Skipping

    • Galloping

    • Running

    • Headstands

    • Somersaults

    • Cartwheels

    • Pull in a wagon, cart, or while on a scooter board

    • Walking across a balance beam

    • Jumping rope

    • Standing upside down with feet up against the wall

    • Walking on a suspended bridge

    • Rough-housing

    • Sliding down slides

    • Riding a bike/scooter

    • Riding rollerblades/roller skates

    • Riding skateboard/bikes/scooters down a hill

    • Horseback riding

    • Riding a rollercoaster

    • Playing twister

    • Sled riding

    • Singing and hand motions for

    • Using a sit and spin

    • Standing or a balance board (check out this DIY version)

    • Obstacle course that requires jumping, crawling, rolling, etc.

  • Spinning is the most intense sensory experience and after a short amount of time, it causes the vestibular system to literally shut off. The effects of spinning can last up to 6-8 hours later, and if it was too much input, those effects might not be what you had in mind. Focus on spinning for 10 seconds in one direction and then stopping and spinning 10 seconds in the other direction. That’s it.

    This is even more powerful and beneficial if you can do this on a platform swing while laying on your belly.

    • lay down on cold/warm floor

    • rocking, tight hug, weighted blanket,

    • pacing

    • walking barefoot

    • linear movements;

    • Vertical movements;

    • Rotary movements;

    • Angular movements;

    • Upside down movements;

    • Horizontal Movements

Examples of Vestibular Stimming by Trix @goddessmisfit