Sensory Diet: Feeding the Vestibular System

So last post, I talked about the importance of proprioceptive input for sensory seeking kiddos. Proprioceptive input feeds your kiddo's need for body awareness. So everything from lifting a heavy book, box or even weight to jumping up and down will help kids feed this particular sense.

One other type of feedback I try to make sure my son gets on a daily basis is vestibular input. Now this time of year (February in Connecticut), it can be a little challenging to get him this type of input. That's because this sense is fed through big movements like swinging, spinning, hanging upside on monkey bars...you know, the kind of stuff I can totally set up in my tiny cramped, I mean, cozy house.

So just as a disclaimer to this post and the previous one--I am no OT. I get my information from the OT my son sees, plus books I read about sensory seeking/defensive kids and of course, Google searches. If you think your child struggles with any of these types of sensory issues, I highly recommend finding an OT and getting an evaluation done.

That bit of official business aside, let's answer the question, what is the vestibular system?

Sensory information about motion, equilibrium and spatial orientation is provided by the vestibular apparatus (VEDA--Life Rebalanced)

Super helpful, right?

Basically, when you turn your head, the fluid in your middle and inner ear sloshes around. Through the intricate and beautiful system that is the human body, the movement is detected, and the body reacts (hopefully) appropriately, allowing you to maintain balance, equilibrium and spatial orientation, as stated above. This happens with almost any movement. So in kids who crave that extra sensory input, movements that really activate that fluid are helpful.

Movements that can help feed the vestibular system:

• Swinging
• Spinning (on a swing or office chair)
• Biking
• Rolling (like on a therapy ball)
• Sledding
• Turning cartwheels or somersaults
• Hanging upside down

What's really great for kids is to do one of these types of movements and then stop and be still. This helps the vestibular system to integrate all the input it just received. Think about how that final pose in yoga (savasana aka corpse pose) helps your body integrate all that great stretching and work your body just did. Movement followed by stillness helps bring it all together. 

So how do you know if your child has trouble with his or her vestibular system? Does your child...

• Have a constant need for movement?
• Seem impulsive, maybe even aggressive?
• Like to be upside down while doing sitting still activities (reading, watching TV, etc)?
• Prefer running to walking?
• Not get as dizzy as you would expect after spinning?

A lot of these signs are the same as a child seeking proprioceptive input. Some kids are sensory seeking (like mine--which is why I focus on this type of behavior), but some are sensory avoiding. If your child is the complete opposite of the above list, then he or she might be sensory avoiding.

There are a few things to remember when putting your child on a sensory diet. First, remember to follow his or her lead. Encourage your child to engage in these activities so that his senses are fed, but don't push them. Second, a child who is sensory seeking one day might be sensory defensive the next. Kids fluctuate with their needs. Adults tend to want kids to be stable, but they just aren't, and it's our job to help them navigate what feels like an ever-changing landscape, not to try to stuff them into the mold we want or need from them. Finally, remember to have fun. These are activities that most kids enjoy and that we all probably enjoyed when we were kids. So swing with your kid, take a bike ride together, race them down a hill--in a sled, or just rolling. Don't worry about the grass stains, and don't worry about the judgement of others. 

Again, I am not an OT. I'm just a mom with a sensory seeking kiddo, so I try my hardest to understand what he needs. It's been a long drawn out battle for me to understand his needs and work harder to anticipate them before they manifest as disruptive behavior. Seek out an OT or trained professional if you think your kiddo's "bad" behavior might be tied to some bigger issue.