Download - Carla Grobler

Carla Grobler
Arbeidsterapeut
Occupational Therapist
Pr No. 0660000080136
Elturion Christian School
256 Tipperary road
Hennopspark
Centurion
084 581 0644
[email protected]
www.carlagrobler.co.za
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What is vestibular dysfunction?
We need a properly working vestibular system for:
o Movement reactions
o Motion tolerance
o Motor control
o Postural alignment
o Balance
o Vision
How does the inner ear work?
Utricle and saccule
-
detect gravity and linear movement
Semicircular canals
-
detect rotational head movement
Poor vestibular functioning could lead to:
o
Poor muscle tone
o
Gravitational insecurity
impaired gross motor and fine motor coordination
poor emotional security
feels vulnerable in unpredictable
social circumstances
o
Movement that lack fluidity, accuracy and proper timing
o
Poor ability to follow moving objects
o
Poor balance
o
Under-reactive vestibular system
Tolerate enormous amounts of movement
Poor bilateral integration
Confuses left/right/directions/instructions
o
Over-reactive vestibular system
Gravitational insecure: doesn’t play on jungle-gyms, swings, etc.
Movement makes him uncomfortable
Signs and symptoms of vestibular dysfunction
o
Dizziness
o
Visual acuity problems
o
Poor spatial relationships: skipping words/letters when reading and/or having a disorganized writing
style
o
Nystagmus (involuntary, alternating, rapid and slow eye movements)
o
Difficulty walking in the dark
o
Hearing loss
o
Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
o
Motion sickness
o
Avoids or craves movement
o
Abnormal movement patterns and/or unsteady gait and/or clumsiness and/or poor posture
o
Headaches
o
Developmental delay e.g. slower achievement of riding a bike, swimming, hopping, et.c
o
Difficulty maintaining attention
o
Watching things spin or spinning himself
o
Inability to read or write cursive
o
Decrease auditory processing
o
Inability to listen to music without moving/rocking/dancing
o
Problematic balance e.g. climbing stairs and walking on uneven surfaces
Causes
o
Chronic ear infections
o
Congenital hearing loss
o
Viral infections
o
Malformations due to genetic conditions
o
Genetic disorders
o
Reduced oxygen at birth
o
Stroke
o
Meningitis
o
Neurological disorders
o
Alcohol or drug abuse of the mom during the pregnancy
o
Immune-deficiency disorders
o
Metabolic disorders
o
Vascular insufficiencies (lack of blood flow)
o
Head-neck trauma
References
www.vestibular.org
www.nspt4kids.com
www.tsbvi.edu