The vestibular system is your body’s balance and movement detector, located in your inner ear. It works like an internal GPS that tells your brain about your head position and movement. This system has two main parts: three fluid-filled loops (semicircular canals) that sense when you turn or spin, and two structures (the utricle and saccule) that detect gravity and forward/backward movements.
When working properly, your vestibular system helps you keep your balance, move smoothly, and know where you are in space.
For people with conditions like autism or ADHD, the vestibular system might work differently. Some might love spinning or swinging (seeking vestibular input), while others might get dizzy easily or avoid moving equipment (avoiding vestibular input). These differences can affect everything from sitting still to riding a bike or navigating crowded spaces.
Understanding someone’s vestibular processing can help create better support strategies at home, school, or work. For example, having movement breaks, weighted items, or alternative seating options during situations where prolonged sitting is required.
Vestibular differences in neurodivergent populations may be mistaken for or comorbid with other conditions, such as anxiety disorders or vertigo.
How vestibular differences can show up in daily life
- An autistic adult with vestibular processing differences might struggle with navigating public transportation, experiencing intense discomfort or disorientation when a bus or train stops suddenly or rounds corners. This might lead the person to plan routes that minimize vestibular challenges carefully or to use noise-cancelling headphones and visual focusing techniques to manage these unavoidable, overwhelming sensory experiences.
- An adult with ADHD and vestibular seeking tendencies might unconsciously incorporate vestibular stimulation into their work environment by using a balance ball chair, standing desk, or taking frequent movement breaks. They might find that these accommodations significantly improve their focus and productivity by satisfying their nervous system’s need for movement.
- A neurodivergent adult with vestibular hypersensitivity might experience severe sensory overload in environments with conflicting sensory information, such as spaces with moving visual patterns, mirrors, or height differences, potentially leading to sensory overwhelm or shutdown in shopping malls, busy restaurants, or open-concept office spaces, necessitating careful environmental modifications in their living and working spaces.
Sensory processing difficulties