In accordance with the reprint policy of the newsletter, this article may be reproduced for non-commercial use, as long as reproductions include proper attribution regarding author and original source. The cerebellum is a structure located behind and below the cerebral cortex. A possible reason for this lack may be that damage to the cerebellum in adults rarely occurs without causing death.
Cerebellar abnormalities are far from rare in people with developmental disorders.
It is known that the cerebellum plays an important role in regulating complex motor activities. Interpretation of the difficulties individuals may exhibit with complex tasks may be difficult. The cerebellum also plays an important role in maintaining homeostasis of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. It would seem reasonable to assume that individuals with preexisting cerebellar-vestibular dysfunction are even more sensitive to the disruptive effects of anxiety. As an occupational therapist once commented to me, virtually all of our ways of talking about anxiety, well-being, and security are phrased in terms of coordination and balance.