04/05/2026
Could retained infant primitive reflexes be silently impacting your child's academic performance?
Primitive reflexes are automatic movements babies are born with that normally fade as the brain develops. This study of 53 kindergarten and first grade children found that 100% of them had at least one retained (un-faded) primitive reflex, and that having these retained reflexes was linked to lower scores in reading, writing, math, and spelling. The findings suggest that retained primitive reflexes could be a hidden factor affecting children's school performance, and that occupational therapists should consider screening for them as part of supporting children's learning and development.
Reference: Diana Feldhacker, Reilly Cosgrove, Benjamin Feiten, Kayleigh Schmidt, Marissa Stewart; Relationship Between Retained Primitive Reflexes and Scholastic Performance. Am J Occup Ther August 2021, Vol. 75(Supplement_2), 7512505164p1. doi: https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2021.75S2-RP164
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