How Primitive Reflexes Are Hindering Your Child

What are Primitive Reflexes?

Primitive reflexes are special reflexes that develop in the brain stem before birth. At birth, they are present to assist in survival. These involuntary movement patterns are designed to keep the newborn alive and help with development through infancy. These are essentially the foundation for higher-level learning and development. These primitive reflexes should not stay forever - they actually should go away typically around 12 months of age as higher functions of the brain and muscle develop. 

When primitive reflexes integrate, it makes way for newer, more mature movement patterns and higher level development. To be scientific, when a new movement pattern is developed, it creates new neural pathways in the brain, prompting higher-level skill development. 

If a reflex does not integrate, development may be hindered and the infant may not gain higher-level skills. 

What are Retained Reflexes?

If a primitive reflex is retained - or still present after 12 months of age, challenges may arise. Each primitive reflex comes with its own set of movements and leads to new and different developmental milestones. If a specific reflex is retained, it may affect a specific area of development. 

These remaining reflexes are unnoticed muscle movements in older children and adults that would not normally be noticed if one didn’t know what to look for. 

How Did This Happen?

Some causes may include traumatic birth, too much time laying in seaters or swings, induced labor, C-section birth, lack of tummy time. But usually, there is not one specific reason. 

Oftentimes when a parent begins learning about primitive reflexes, they may feel guilty. Please don’t feel guilty! Retained reflexes are no one’s fault! Yes, there are things we can do during our child’s early early years to help promote reflex integration, but there is no “one size fits all”, there is no “cure”, and there is no blame to be had! 

Possible Symptoms of Retained Reflexes

Because primitive reflexes start at the base of the brain. Functions that try to develop above them do not wire properly. Some symptoms we can see with these retained reflexes are: 

• Anxiety

• Motion sickness

• Clumsy

• Poor hand-eye coordination

• Challenges with reading

• Poor handwriting

• Low muscle tone

• Fine motor task challenges

• Decreased coordination with sports

• W-sitting or toe walking

• Bedwetting

• Poor short term memory

• Hypersensitivity to sounds or touch

• Speech challenges

• Picky eating or oral motor challenges

• ADHD tendencies 

What Can Be Done?

First, remember that there is nothing wrong with your child! This may just be something that they struggle with and your job is to help them as they grow. 

Next is for one of our doctors to test these reflexes and give the appropriate exercises to help integrate them! Most of the exercises are simple, easy and doesn’t require much time. As some may differ, we recommend doing them 5-7 days per week for about 10 minutes per day for 4-6 weeks. 

Common Reflexes We Look For

Some primitive reflexes that we will check in our office are: 

• Moro Reflex

• Palmar Grasp Reflex

• Rooting Reflex

• Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR)

• Spinal Galant Reflex

• Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR)

Interested in learning more about primitive reflexes or want to schedule an appointment to examine your child for them? Give us a call at 704-821-5000!