The Evidence for Gravitational Insecurity as a Sensory Integration Dysfunction

Featuring: Teresa May-Benson, ScD, OTR/L, FAOTA
originally recorded November 28, 2017

LiveTalks are hour long audio-only podcasts. This LiveTalk is part of the Sensory Integration and Evidence-Based Practice bundle.

Description: Gravitational insecurity is a type of sensory integration dysfunction that is characterized by a fear response to common movement experiences. However, this is a vestibular dysfunction that is only reported by occupational therapists. This lecture will present evidence from a recently completed scoping review on gravitational insecurity and related vestibular processing disorders. This lecture will present information on the state of the evidence for gravitational insecurity as a sensory integration disorder as well as literature supporting assessment of this problem. Literature from diverse fields of practice will be discussed which supports this problem. Implications for practice will be presented.

Learning Objectives:
By the end of this LiveTalk listeners will be able to:

1. State how gravitational insecurity relates to other sensory-motor and social-emotional functions.
2. State 3 studies from outside the field of occupational therapy which support the construct of gravitational insecurity.
3. Identify 3 clinical observations which may be used to identify gravitational insecurity.

Course Level: Introductory. There are no prerequisites for this course.

Suitable For: Occupational Therapists, OT Assistants, Physical Therapists, PT Assistants, Psychologists, Parents, Teachers.

AOTA:
Domain: Client Factors
Process: Assessment

Contact Hours: This course is worth 1.0 contact hour or 0.1 AOTA CEUs.

Completion Requirements: To receive contact hours for this course you must listen to the recorded LiveTalk in its entirety, and complete the accompanying assessment.

About the Speaker: Teresa A. May-Benson, ScD, OTR/L, FAOTA is the Executive Director of the Spiral Foundation as well as a practicing occupational therapist at OTA The Koomar Center. She is active in conducting research related to sensory integration through the Spiral Foundation’s Sensory Processing Research Center and Laboratory. She is a well-known lecturer and researcher on sensory integration theory and intervention, has authored book chapters and articles on praxis and sensory integration, and completed her doctoral dissertation on ideational praxis. Dr. May-Benson received her bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University and her master’s degree from Boston University with a concentration in sensory integration and school system therapy. She was a Maternal and Child Health Fellow in the Doctoral Program in Therapeutic Studies at Boston University. She has received the Virginia Scardinia Award of Excellence from AOTA for her work in ideational praxis.

ADA/Section 504: If you require special accommodations, please contact the Spiral Foundation at admin@thespiralfoundation.org or (617) 969-4410 ext. 231.

Continuing Education:

Occupational Therapy Practitioners/ Occupational Therapy Assistants:  The Spiral Foundation is an Approved Provider of Continuing Education for occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants by the American Occupational Therapy Association.  The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.