A multiple baseline design across subjects was used to assess the effect of vestibular stimulation on the acquisition of erect and symmetrical sitting of preschoolers with severe and multiple handicaps. The subjects were three children aged 3-5 with various handicapping conditions. Measurements of erect and symmetrical sitting were taken in separate 3-minute time samples following vestibular stimulation. All three subjects made gains in erect sitting. Results from the symmetrical sitting measure were less conclusive. The two subjects with athetosis appeared to maintain these gains across a 4-month follow-up period while the subject with hypertonicity did not.
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