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WHAT IS THE VESTIBULAR SYSTEM?

Provides sensory information


about motion, equilibrium,
and spatial orientation
Vestibular apparatus in the inner
ear helps detect gravity,
linear movement and
rotational movement
 Semicircular canals contain a
fluid that moves as our head
turns in different directions
 The pressure and movement
of the fluid sends information
to the brain
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
• Fully functional at birth-continues to adapt and integrate with other
systems as development occurs
 Rocking and carrying are soothing and calming to an infant
 Lifting into upright position can increase alertness

• Communicates with our proprioceptors (the sensors of our muscles and


joints) that help us determine where our body is in space and how it is
moving. This affects balance, posture, and our adaptive responses to
changes in position and direction.
• Facilitates development of normal movements, postural alignment, trunk
control, balance, and vision (Cronin & Rine, n.d.)
• Early vestibular dysfunction can affect development
DEFICITS IN VESTIBULAR SYSTEM CAN CAUSE
• Delayed motor skills (gross & fine)
• Visual motor skills
• Poor attention & focus
• Balance deficits
• Core strength
• Language disorders
• Learning disabilities

(Fryer, 2010)

https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/5840586b1a00002500ccab7b.jpeg?ops=scalefit_720_noupscale
CAUSES OF VESTIBULAR DISORDERS
• Sensory processing disorders
• Chronic ear infections
• Congenital hearing loss
• Genetic disorders
• Neurological conditions (CP, hydrocephalus, brain tumor)
• Anoxia or stroke
• Diabetes
• Head injuries
• Age

(Cronin & Rine, n.d.)


Astronaut Training Program

• Astronauts experience disturbances in balance, stability, gait, and movement


due to gravity and pressure changes
• The human brain’s plasticity allows people to modify behaviors and learn how
to adapt to new environments, especially in challenging sensory environments
(“learning to learn”)
• Astronauts are placed through a sensorimotor adaptability training program,
which involves sensory variations (visual flow tests, support surface motion,
body loading, vestibular stochastic resonance) and how to make appropriate
motor patterns to adapt to environmental changes
• Frequent trials to help astronauts improve their ability to adapt and generalize
training to new opportunities

(Bloomberg, Peters, Cohen, & Mulavara, 2015).


NOT JUST FOR ASTRONAUTS….
SPINNING PROTOCOL
A child is spun on a swing or large “lazy susan” board in various directions (right
side lying, left side lying, and upright sitting), both clockwise and
counterclockwise
The therapist spins the board at a certain number of revolutions per minute
(average of 7x) with controlled, rhythmic movements
When the body is spinning, the eyes attempt to focus on objects to help orient the
body
After the spins, the therapist stops and observes the eye movement of the child to
see if there is a typical or abnormal response
The fluid that is in our ear canal (part of our vestibular system) is responsible for
telling us where our body is in space. After spinning, the fluid is still in motion
and trying to orient back to a still position.
POST ROTARY NYSTAGMUS
Side to side movements of the eyes after spinning in upright sitting & up and down
movements after side lying
Normal response: Eye movement will occur for ½ the amount of time that spinning
occurred (8 seconds of spinning= 4 seconds of eye movement)
If no nystagmus- vestibular system is under-responsive (seeks more intense
behaviors)
Excessive nystagmus- vestibular system is over-responsive (avoidant of intense
movement)
EXAMPLES OF VESTIBULAR AVOIDING
BEHAVIORS
• Afraid of activities that involve movement
• Scared of playground equipment (i.e. stairs, merry
go rounds)
• Fearful of elevators
• Does not like being turned upside down or being
lifted off the ground
• Avoids stairs and may hold on to railing tightly
• May appear clumsy or have poor coordination
EXAMPLES OF VESTIBULAR SEEKING
BEHAVIORS
• Inability to sit still, always in constant motion
• Can never seem to get enough movement
• Very impulsive, leading to unsafe risks and
behaviors
• Prefers to be upside down or hang off a couch or
chair
VESTIBULAR SEEKING/AVOIDING BEHAVIORS
EFFECT:
• Focus during seated activities (fine motor tasks, homework)
• Gaze stabilization with head control/movement
• Rest, bedtime routine, sleep patterns
• Completing ADL’s: getting dressed, showering, completing a
meal
• Safety in the environment (i.e. falls, running into objects)

The body is too focused on getting more input that it affects


performance in everyday life.
ROTARY VESTIBULAR INPUT (SPINNING)
• Most powerful form of sensory input for the brain to process
• Helps the body self-regulate and resets the vestibular
system
• 15 minutes of spinning can have a 6 hour effect on the
brain
• Use the spinning protocol as prep work in therapy to
provide a calming or alerting sensation
TYPES OF VESTIBULAR INPUT

$129 (amazon)- $169

http://www.astronautboards.com/Products_Page.html
DIY: MAKE YOUR OWN ASTRONAUT BOARD

Full step-by-step directions here:


Tools Needed:

3/4-inch-thick wood board https://healthfully.com/make-


spinning-board-sensory-
5/8-inch screws
integration-12173257.html
Lazy Susan hardware

Cloth and fiberfill

Photo: http://www.readybodies.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/RBLMChildren8.jpg
REFERENCES
Bloomberg, J., Peters, B., Cohen, H., Mulavara, A. (2015). Enhancing astronaut performance using
sensorimotor adaptability training. Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience, 16.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnsys.2015.00129
Cronin, G. W., & Rine, R. M. (n.d.). Pediatric vestibular disorders. Vestibular Disorders Association, 1-
10. Retrieved from: www.vestibular.org.

Fryer, S. (2010). Astronaut training, it’s not just for astronauts. Retrieved from:
https://integrativepediatric.wordpress.com/2010/04/06/astronaut-training-its-not-just-for-
astronauts/

Myers, C. T., Case-Smith, J., & Cason, J. (2015). Early intervention. In J. Case-Smith & J.C. O’Brien
(Eds.), Occupational Therapy for Children and Adolescents (pp. 636-663). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.

Voss, A. (n.d.). The effects of spinning. Retrieved from: http://asensorylife.com/the-effects-of-


spinning.html

Watson, M., Black, F., & Crowson, M. (n.d.). The vestibular system. Retrieved from:
http://vestibular.org/understanding-vestibular-disorder/human-balance-system

Wuehr, M., Boerner, J. C., Decker, J., Jahn, K., Brandt, T., & Schniepp, R. (2018). Stochastic resonance
in the human vestibular system: Noice-induced facilitation of vestibulospinal reflexes. Brain
Stimulation, 11(1), 261-263.

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