Skip to content
Glossary

Vestibular System

The inner-ear system that senses head movement and position, keeping you balanced and oriented.

The vestibular system lives in the inner ear and detects every shift in head position — forward, backward, sideways, rotational, upside down. It works with vision and proprioception to keep you upright, balanced, and aware of your orientation in space. Children with under-responsive vestibular systems often seek intense movement — spinning, swinging, jumping off furniture — because their brains need the extra input. Over-responsive children may avoid slides, refuse to tip their head back for shampoo, or get carsick easily. Vestibular input is a core ingredient in sensory integration therapy: swings, scooter boards, and therapy balls are not toys, but calibrated tools.