Research Question: Will daily engagement in activities tailored to the evidence-based vestibular research result in improved attention and learning outcomes for children ages 6-9 years of age after an 8-week classroom-based intervention?
"Vestibulotherapy" is an emerging frame of reference aiming to help neurotypical children with under-performing vestibular systems develop neural pathways supporting communication and learning. Theory based upon systematic review: Given adequate vestibular activation through targeted activities (in an otherwise under-performing vestibular system), myelination and neuroplasticity propagate along learning pathways leading to greater neural connectivity and efficiency for sequencing, ordinance, attention, memory, body schema, spatial cognition, executive function, and interoception. As a result of prescribed vestibular interventions and gained attributes supporting learning, students will experience increased academic growth and success as outlined by the following model.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
15
For this study, the following activity-orientated interventions will occur within the natural learning environments so that generous opportunities exist for neural plasticity and growth. Each student will be engaged in 20-30 minutes/day of intermittent classroom activities, plus 20-30- minutes of daily stability work embedded into classroom routines including stabilizing self on a Hokki stool or t-stool or standing on a balance board during sedentary work, such as circle time or read-a-loud.
School District of La Crosse
La Crosse, Wisconsin, United States
Change in Academic Score reporting
Academic record review: Math, spelling, and reading records from the 1st Semester of school will indicate trends in student performance. Immediately following and six months post-intervention, the trends will be compared to determine if a significant change occurs in these dependent variables. During and immediately following the intervention, spelling and math tests will be taken on consistent days of the week to avoid variabilities in data. Numerical data will be graphed to illustrate and examine trends and slope over time to determine significance of change.
Time frame: Baseline data established at recruitment, followed by weekly data collection of scores from spelling and math for twelve weeks, and again once at three-months post intervention
Vestibular Attributes
Vestibular Profile - Pediatric (VP-P) will be completed at recruitment. The most salient attributes will be monitored weekly throughout the intervention.
Time frame: up to twelve weeks
Time on Task / Attention
Time on Task measures reflecting active participation and attention during instruction
Time frame: up to twelve weeks
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