The Vision, Vestibular and VIP Connection

This interconnected module bridges the gap between the visual, vestibular, and visual information processing systems, emphasizing their collective impact on occupational performance in the neurological population. Participants will develop a foundational understanding of central and peripheral vestibular diagnoses relevant to occupational therapy practice and learn to recognize how vestibular dysfunction presents within functional tasks. The course highlights the dynamic integration of the visual–vestibular system and its influence on cognition, postural control, autonomic (sympathetic nervous system) activation, and overall participation in daily occupations. Attendees will examine how disruptions in these systems contribute to symptoms such as dizziness, visual motion sensitivity, cognitive fatigue, anxiety responses, and decreased tolerance for environmental demands. The module underscores clinical reasoning strategies that link impairment-level findings to functional limitations, reinforcing OT’s role in comprehensive neurorehabilitation.

Rich in video demonstrations, this extensive course features examples of re-emerging primitive reflexes following injury, binocular and oculomotor deficits, and multimodal treatment sessions that integrate vision, vestibular, and cognitive interventions. Participants will leave with a stronger understanding of system interplay and practical strategies to design holistic, occupation-based treatment approaches that address the complex needs of neurological clients. This course consists of approximately two hours of lecture.