08/18/2024
Does Your Child Have Retained Primitive Reflexes?
Primitive Reflexes are the special reflexes that develop in the brain stem before birth. These reflexes are automatic movements and require no conscious thought. They help the baby with positioning in the womb, birthing, feeding and development in the first months of life. Most of these Primitive Reflexes go away as higher functions of the brain and muscle control develop. If these reflexes remain after the first year of life they interfere with the neurological organization of the brain.
Because Primitive Reflexes start at the base of the brain. Functions that try to develop above them don’t wire properly. It can cause or contribute to: Autism Spectrum Disorders, Sensory Processing Disorders, Hyper Activity, ADHD, Speech Disorders, Social Disorders, Asthma, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, Immune Disorders and learning disabilities.
How Did This Happen? There are many children and adults that for one reason or another still have one or more Primitive Reflexes remaining. Some causes may include a difficult birth, C-Section, lack of “tummy time” (too much time laying in seats or swings), lack of crawling, walking early, exposure to toxins, head injuries, physical and or emotional trauma.
Symptoms of Retained Primitive Reflexes:
Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex: Reading/Math Difficulties, Dyslexia, Poor Eye-Hand Coordination, Immature Handwriting, Poor Depth Perception, Poor Balance.
Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex: Low Muscle Tone, Poor Posture, Vision/Tracking Issues, Difficulty Reading, Dyslexia, Skips Crawling, W-Sitting, ADD, ADHD, Fidgety, Poor Eye-Hand Coordination, Sloppy Eating.
Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex: Toe Walking, Poor Concentration, Muscle Tone Issues, Poor Posture, Dyspraxia, Motion Sickness, Speech/Auditory Processing, Poor Balance, Spatial Awareness.
Moro Reflex: Easily Distracted, Hypersensitive to Sensory Stimuli (Light, Sound, Touch), Over Sensitive to Motion, Overreacts, Impulsive, Emotional Immaturity, Withdrawn or Shy, ADD, ADHD, Autism Spectrum, Difficulty Making Friends, Depression, Dyslexia, Allergies/Asthma, Anger or Emotional Outbursts, Poor Balance and Coordination, Poor Digestion, Food Sensitivities.
Spinal Galant Reflex: Fidgety, Hyper Activity, Poor Concentration, Bedwetting, Short Term Memory Issues, Fidgeting, Low Endurance, Chronic Digestion Issues.
Palmar Reflex: Poor Pencil Grip, Poor Handwriting, Poor Dexterity, Poor Vision Coordination, Sticks Tongue Out when Using Hands, Poor Ability to put Thoughts on Paper, Dysgraphia, Speech/Language Problems, Anger Control Issues.
Rooting Reflex: Hyper Sensitive Around Mouth, Difficulty with Textures and Solid Foods, Thumb Sucking, Speech and Articulation Issues, Difficulty Swallowing and Chewing, Drooling, Hormone imbalance, Thyroid/Autoimmune Issues.
Fear Paralysis Reflex: Easily Overwhelmed, Motion Sickness, Low Self Esteem, Sensory Processing Issues, Depression, Anxiety, Extreme Shyness, Elective Mutism, Highly Phobic, Fear of Failure, OCD, Procrastination, Difficulty with Eye Contact.
What Can Be Done? If your child has any symptoms of Retained Primitive Reflexes contact Pediatrics In The Pines Occupational Therapy. Our therapists will assess the integrity of your child’s central nervous system. A customized exercise program will then be implemented to facilitate integration of these foundational reflexes. The goal is to improve the neural pathway development. This will then allow for more mature movement patterns and higher-level learning that may have been previously blocked.
Pediatrics In The Pines Occupational Therapy
242 Whipple St, Suite 1
Prescott, AZ
86301
928-445-0176
