{"id":323,"date":"2011-12-25T21:33:55","date_gmt":"2011-12-26T02:33:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.carouselandrockinghorses.com\/blog\/?p=323"},"modified":"2021-09-22T12:00:05","modified_gmt":"2021-09-22T16:00:05","slug":"why-your-autism-spectrum-child-needs-a-rocking-horse-aka-vestibular-stimulation-and-the-autism-spectrum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carouselandrockinghorses.com\/blog\/why-your-autism-spectrum-child-needs-a-rocking-horse-aka-vestibular-stimulation-and-the-autism-spectrum\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Your Autism Spectrum Child Needs a Rocking Horse – Vestibular Stimulation and the Autism Spectrum"},"content":{"rendered":"
One of the major problem areas for our son with Aspergers is his need\"\" for vestibular stimulation. \u00a0From the time that Z could locomote, life has been a significant challenge for us because he would spend most of his time running around the house at top speed, banging into the walls, falling on the ground and laughing maniacally. \u00a0These activities have always brought him endless delight and as a young boy, he was never happier than when he was careening around at speeds that were highly concerning to us as his parents. \u00a0Z was a very active boy from the get-go and at the time my husband and I just chalked it up to, ‘he’s a boy’. \u00a0Now we know better.<\/div>\n

Since Z’s diagnosis with Aspergers 5 months ago, we have learned that his careening around is actually a common behaviour for kids on the autism spectrum and we can do something to help him! \u00a0What a relief, because the behaviour that was cute, (if not slightly odd) at 18 months, was getting downright dangerous at 6 years of age. It was so simple, Z was just seeking sensory input from a vestibular standpoint.<\/p>\n

Never heard of the vestibular system? \u00a0Neither had we, but we have since learned that the vestibular system is situated in the inner ear. \u00a0As one of the ‘near senses’, this important system is responsible for detecting our movement through space and the position of our head. \u00a0This helps us to correctly identify which direction we are facing, or moving, the angle that our head is at and even whether we are upside down or right side up! \u00a0 For most people, these tasks are performed effortlessly without them even needing to think about it, but for kids like Z, the story is quite different.<\/p>\n

Z is a ‘vestibular seeker’, as are many kids on the spectrum. \u00a0Meaning that he is chronically craving movement. \u00a0They love to spin and rock and are often roller coaster enthusiasts – a fact which I found out after a day at Six Flags with Z where I went on the kids roller coaster 12 times in a row without a break. \u00a0I was ready to throw up, but Z was strangely calm and centered! \u00a0These ‘seekers’ are hyperactive, always running jumping or hopping, they crave intense movement including jumping and upside down positions, and they love to rock, spin and swing incredibly high.<\/p>\n

Given that Z needs this kind of sensory input, how do we provide it to him in every day life without having our house destroyed in the process? \u00a0Well, it’s challenging, but we have found some things that really work for Z. \u00a0On the days that he just can’t stop running and crashing, we try these things before our house gets destroyed…<\/p>\n

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