The Mighty Vestibular System

Course overview

This course provides the fundamentals for understanding how to harness the power of the vestibular system to influence optimal outcomes when vestibular-based intervention is indicated. A basic overview of vestibular function and anatomy, as well as central nervous system interaction is provided. Vestibular functions will be traced from the receptor through the primary and associated processing pathways. The content will include information on how to directly assess vestibular function as well as the common physiological, postural, ocular manifestations that need to be included in assessment. Vestibular processing is a quiet, pivotal foundation, critical in the ASI approach, and often a missing link underlying neurodevelopmental progress. Treatment considerations to produce effective improvements in specific vestibular symptoms (dizziness, motion perception difficulties) as well as the direct products of vestibular processing, (balance, bilateral coordination, postural/ocular control, motor timing and coordination, visual motor/perceptual skills, etc) are provided. These considerations are extended to include associated modulation-based difficulties, including a grounded sense of self within the context of person/environment/other/task, and as functional abilities related to vestibular processing are provided.