Sensory Perceptual Skills - Vestibular

Balance Beam

The vestibular system is important for the development of normal movement reactions, motion tolerance, and motor control for postural alignment, balance, and vision (Vestibular Disorder Association). One method to improve and provide vestibular input is through movement using a Balance Beam

 Some children may shows imbalance during walking on balance beam. Therefore, before using a vestibular movement in sensory diet, therapist/parents must consider child's ability in vestibular.

 In OT, every activities done in graded method. Task given from simple to complex. For the vestibular movement using balance beam, I used wider base for starter. Next, the base became narrow and a fence on the third base. As the base become narrow, more obstacle present to challenge child's ability. This is a Sensory Integration Frame of Reference method whereby challenges will increase the duration and frequency of adaptive response.

 One of walking on balance beam advantage is this activity will improve child's attention as the child need to sustain his/her attention when walks on balance beam and tries to balance himself/herself. 

Hope it helpful