What is vestibular dysfunction?

We need a properly working vestibular system for:

• Movement reactions
• Motion tolerance
• Motor control
• Postural alignment
• Balance
• Vision

How does the inner ear work?

Utricle and saccule – detect gravity and linear movement

Semicircular canals – detect rotational head movemen

Poor vestibular functioning could lead to:

• Poor muscle tone: impaired gross motor and fine motor coordination
• Gravitational insecurity: poor emotional security – feels vulnerable in unpredictable social circumstances
• Movement that lack fluidity, accuracy and proper timing
• Poor ability to follow moving objects
• Poor balance
• Under-reactive vestibular system – Tolerate enormous amounts of movement
• Poor bilateral integration – Confuses left/right/directions/instructions
• Over-reactive vestibular system – Gravitational insecure:  doesn’t play on jungle-gyms, swings, etc. Movement makes him uncomfortable

Signs and symptoms of vestibular dysfunction

• Dizziness
• Visual acuity problems
• Poor spatial relationships:  skipping words/letters when reading and/or having a disorganized writing style
• Nystagmus (involuntary, alternating, rapid and slow eye movements)
• Difficulty walking in the dark
• Hearing loss
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
• Motion sickness
• Avoids or craves movement
• Abnormal movement patterns and/or unsteady gait and/or clumsiness and/or poor posture
• Headaches
• Developmental delay e.g. slower achievement of riding a bike, swimming, hopping, et.c
• Difficulty maintaining attention
• Watching things spin or spinning himself
• Inability to read or write cursive
• Decrease auditory processing
• Inability to listen to music without moving/rocking/dancing
• Problematic balance e.g. climbing stairs and walking on uneven surfaces

Causes

• Chronic ear infections
• Congenital hearing loss
• Viral infections
• Malformations due to genetic conditions
• Genetic disorders
• Reduced oxygen at birth
• Stroke
• Meningitis
• Neurological disorders
• Alcohol or drug abuse of the mom during the pregnancy
• Immune-deficiency disorders
• Metabolic disorders
• Vascular insufficiencies (lack of blood flow)
• Head-neck trauma