The vestibular system is your child’s sense of balance and movement, housed in the inner ear. This system helps children understand the direction and speed of their movements, maintain balance, and keep their heads upright. The vestibular system is foundational for nearly every movement and allows us to feel safe and grounded in space.
Why is the Vestibular System Important?
A well-developed vestibular system is crucial for:
- Balance and posture: Helping children stand, sit, and move with stability. It is crucial for remaining upright in a chair.
- Coordination and motor skills: Allowing them to engage in activities like running, jumping, and sports. It is particularly important for bilateral coordination, or using two sides of the body in certain tasks like riding a bike or catching a ball with two hands.
- Eye movements: Supporting visual tracking and focusing, especially for reading and writing.
- Spatial awareness: Recognizing and understanding the position and movement of one’s body in space.
- Self-regulation: Vestibular input can have a calming or alerting effect, helping children manage their energy levels and emotions.
Signs your child may have difficulty processing vestibular input
Challenges with vestibular processing shows up in many ways. A child who struggles with this system might:
- Avoid playground equipment like swings, slides, or seesaws.
- Seem fearful of movement, such as heights, spinning, or being upside down.
- Seek intense movement, like spinning, jumping, or rough play.
- Get dizzy easily or, conversely, never seem to feel dizzy even after spinning.
- Have poor balance or coordination, frequently stumbling or falling.
- Struggle with activities involving head movements, like rolling or somersaults.
- Experience motion sickness in cars or on rides.
- Has poor self-regulation; may seem overly emotional and/or have meltdowns frequently.
- Difficulties focusing and staying in their seat.
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