It refers to structures within the inner ear (the semi-circular canals) that detect movement and changes in the position of the head. The vestibular system tells you when your head is upright or tilted, even with your eyes closed. Dysfunction of the vestibular system can manifest symptomatically as vertigo, nausea, vomiting, visual disturbance, hearing changes, and various cognitive deficits.
Signs:
- Avoids playground equipment like swings, ladders, slides, or merry-go-round
- Prefers sedentary tasks, moves slowly and cautiously
- Avoids elevators and escalators or prefers sitting while on them, might get motion sickness too
- Afraid of heights, fearful of going up and down the stairs
- Loses balance quickly, and avoids rapid or rotating moments
- Hypersensitive kids will show opposite signs of being in constant motion, craving fast, spinning, rotating, using a swivel chair for a long duration, rocking body or shaking a leg/head while sitting
Sensory integration:
- Swinging slowly to and fro, encourage the kid to sit on a low swing
- Ride on bikes whenever possible
- Encourage slow bounce on trampoline or bed or mattress
- Slow rolling on a therapy ball
- Walking through an obstacle course
- For hyposensitive kids, play games like Freeze Dance (stop-start activities), use the swing in the playground, run along a target, including swimming, balancing/jumping/walking/acting with eyes closed.
#autism #autistic #actuallyautistic #neurodiversity #neurodiverse #neurodivergent #autismpride #asd #pride #loveislove #autismawareness #autismacceptance #forabettertomorrow #autismadvocate #spectrum_inspired #specialneeds #staystrong #thanks #life #optionsoflife #lifechoices #choices #working #patience #success #failure #happiness #love #story