Triveni Goswami Vernal
(Registered Special Educator: A64010)

Stims refer to self-stimulatory behaviour. Individuals on the Autism spectrum often engage in stims to regulate their sensory experiences. The vestibular sensory system creates a sense of balance and spatial orientation, that is required for coordinating and regulating movements of the body. When individuals on the Autism spectrum are overwhelmed or underwhelmed with the vestibular sensory information, they tend to engage in vestibular stims, to help them create a sense of regulation.

HYPERSENSITIVITY TO VESTIBULAR STIMULATION:
Hypersensitivity to Vestibular stimulation, will lead to an avoidance of any kind of vestibular input. They may have an over-responsiveness to the vestibular stimulation. For example, an avoidance of any activity that involves motion—climbing ladders, slides, swings, cars etc. This often translates into an avoidance of playgrounds, parks and play areas that involve activities requiring such motion. They may appear to be clumsy, or demonstrate a fear of heights, they may be scared of using the stairs. They may also have ‘gravitational anxiety’…a fear of their feet leaving the ground (hence avoiding swings/climbing ladders/being held upside down etc).

HYPOSENSITIVITY TO VESTIBULAR STIMULATION:
Hyposensitivity to Vestibular stimulation, will lead to an engagement in behaviour to actively seek out any kind of vestibular input. They may be under-responsive to vestibular input, and seek more and more of it. For example, wanting to swing, play on the slides, hang upside down, do skating, seeking movement in cars/ scooters, rocking, swaying, spinning on their own axis without feeling dizzy etc. Such individuals may be constantly active, seeking that vestibular input from the environment, all the time.

Occupational Therapy can help individuals with both hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity to vestibular input, regulate their sensory systems. In my next blog, I will touch upon the activities that can be done with individuals, for the same.
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Author Triveni Goswami Vernal

Triveni Goswami Vernal is an Autism advocate, registered Special Educator (CRR A64010) and an Independent Researcher. Her areas of interest include Autism, Disability Rights, Gender, Art and Northeast studies. She is a mum to an 12 year old on the Autism Spectrum.

Artwork Sunflowers- Artist Kabir Vernal
Acrylic Painting on Canvas Board