Retained Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR)

The Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex is present at birth then disappears until about 6 to 9 months. It reappears for a few months to assist in learning to crawl.

You will notice it in a baby if you move their chin down toward their chest. The knees will bend. If you move the head up toward the back, the legs will straighten. Do not confuse this with the Landau Reflex. They are two separate reflexes.

If this does not integrate and disappear by about 11 months, it can cause motor learning and behavior disorders. Simple exercises can solve the problem.

Retained Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex Symptoms

Poor posture standing
Sits with slumpy posture
Low muscle tone
Ape-like walk
Problems with attention especially in stressful situations
Vision accommodation and tracking problems
Difficulty learning to swim
Difficulty reading
Dyslexia
Usually skips crawling
Sits with legs in a W position
ADD
ADHD
Hyper activity or fidgety
Poor hand eye coordination
Problems looking between near and far sighted objects, like copying from a chalkboard
Sloppy eater
Rotated Pelvis
Even if they don’t display any of these symptoms, it is a good idea to do the quick test on them, as there may be other functions that are affected by it that are still unknown.

Studies

Check out the latest studies on Primitive Reflex Integration. My favorite is the newest study by Harvard.

Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex Test

Have the child get down on their hands and knees, with neck straight and their body slightly forward enough to put weight over their hands. Now ask the child to lower the head bringing the chin toward the chest for a count of 7 seconds, then raise head up toward their back. Do this several times.

Look For:

Back twitching. Back trying to arch up when head is up. Arms bending or body weight shifting back toward their legs when head goes up. If any of these occur the reflex is most likely still present. Exercise needed!

Retained Palmar Reflex or Grasp Reflex

The Palmar Reflex aka Grasp Reflex is seen when an infant grips around an object that touches their palm. This is normal and helps the baby learn to grip and hang on to things with their hands. The Palmar Reflex develops in the third month of gestation and should disappear at around 3-6 months of age as they gain hand control. It is needed for hand-eye coordination, proper vision, and direction/distance judgement. If it isn’t properly integrated it can contribute to an array of problems.

Retained Palmar Reflex Symptoms

Poor handwriting
Poor pencil grip
Poor fine muscle control
Poor dexterity
Poor fine motor skills
Poor vision coordination
Slumpy posture when using hands
Back aches when sitting
Sticks tongue out when using hands
Poor pencil grip
Poor ability to put thoughts to paper
Dysgraphia
Speech and language problems
Anger control issues
Even if they don’t display any of these symptoms, it is a good idea to do the quick test on them, as there may be other functions that are affected by it that are still unknown.

Retained Moro Reflex or Startle Reflex

The Moro Reflex develops about the thirteenth week of gestation. It develops to help protect the baby from danger sensed through the sensory system and take the first breath of life. When a newborn is startled or receives sensory input like a jarring, sudden light or sound, the arms will flail out, then baby quickly takes a deep breath, then curls up crossing both the arms and legs.

This is an involuntary reflex that is part of normal development and should disappear between 2-4 months of age. Because this reflex is triggered by the sensory systems, it can cause an array of problems if it remains longer.

Pediatricians will check this reflex at the baby’s 6 week appointment to make sure it is present. They seldom check in later appointments to make sure it was integrated and gone. It is not part of the pediatric list of assessments done at later appointments.

Because of the changing environment, procedures, and lack of tummy time, more children are not integrating this reflex.

Studies

Check out the latest studies on Primitive Reflex Integration. My favorite is the newest ADHD study by Harvard Univ. done on the Melillo Method which incorporates Primitive Reflex Integration.

Retained Moro Reflex Symptoms

Easily Distracted
Hypersensitive to sensory stimuli like light and sound and touch.
Over sensitivity to motion causing car sickness
Or under sensitivity to sensory stimuli
Overreacts
Impulsive and aggressive
Emotional immaturity
Withdrawn or timid and shy
ADD
ADHD
Autism Spectrum
Asperger’s
Sensory Disorders
Difficulty making friends
Depression
Dyslexia
Health Problems
Allergies and Asthma
Anger or Emotional Outbursts
Poor Balance and Coordination
Poor Digestion and Food Sensitivities
Even if they don’t display any of these symptoms, it is a good idea to do the quick test on them, as there may be other functions that are affected by it that are still unknown.

The Moro Reflex or “Startle Reflex” is the earliest development of the “fight or flight” instinct. When frightened or threatened, it triggers “reaction” or “retraction” from the threat. Because in infancy, it is triggered by the sensory system, it will cause sensory processing problems if not integrated. Because it triggers the Adrenals to “fight or flight” mode. It causes hyper activity and attention problems. Once the adrenals quickly tire of the over stimulation, the child usually develops chronic allergies, asthma, auto immune and other health problems connected with fatigued adrenals. Furthermore, when the body is in ‘fight or flight’ mode, the brain is in an instinctual state and cannot store or recall information as well. This contributes to learning disabilities.

The reflex can be easily integrated with about 6 weeks of simple exercises. Many of the symptoms will disappear or improve as the brain and body start to function better.

Studies

Check out the latest studies on Primitive Reflex Integration. My favorite is the newest study by Harvard.

Moro Reflex Test

Have the child sit on a low chair or lay on their back. Ask them to open their arms and legs out like a starfish. Now ask them to bring them in crossing them as they curl up. You may need to demonstrate it for them or let them see the pictures below. Generally they will cross with the opposite arm from leg on top. This is normal, at first, and the way they did it when startled as an infant.

Now ask them to spread arms and legs out again and cross/curl up, again but with the same arm as leg on top. Right leg and right arm on top. If they are too young to know right from left, put a sticker on the back of their right hand and on their right foreleg. Ask them to cross up with stickers on top.

Now do the same with the left side.

If they struggle doing this then the reflex is still present and needs to be integrated with “Starfish Exercises”.

For disabled children, or children too young to follow instructions, see out Moro Reflex Test for disabled.

Retained Landau Reflex

The Landau Reflex is one that develops a few months after birth and remains until about 12 months old. It is useful in helping the child develop posture. If the Landau Reflex does not integrate (go away), it can cause posture, motor, and memory issues later on.

Symptoms of Retained Landau Reflex

Low Muscle Tone
Poor Posture
Poor Motor Development
Short Term Memory Difficulty.
Tension in the back of legs, toe walker.
Lack of Stimulation in the pre frontal cortex causing attention, organization and concentration problems.
Weak upper body
Difficulty swimming the breast stroke.
Struggles to do a summersault. Knees buckle when head tucks under.
Even if they don’t display any of these symptoms, it is a good idea to do the quick test on them, as there may be other functions that are affected by it that are still unknown.

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Retained Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR)

The Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex, like the Spinal Gallant Reflex (SGR), helps the infant do their part of emergence through the birth canal and learn hand and eye control. You will notice it in an infant if you gently turn their head to one side. The arm and leg on the same side will straighten, while the arm and leg on the opposite side will flex. The Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex develops at 18 weeks after conception and should be integrated and gone by about 6 months after birth. If not, it can cause motor issues, reading, math, and other learning problems.

The connection between the hand and eyes help develop depth perception and eye-hand coordination. If the ATNR is retained the child will have difficulty walking normally when turning his head or problems writing and reading when head movement is needed, which is always. For example, writing while looking back and forth to the blackboard or a book.

Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex Symptoms

Reading Difficulties
Dyslexia
Hand eye coordination problems
Awkward walk or gait
Difficulty in school
Immature handwriting
Difficulty in sports
Math and reading issues
Poor balance
Eye, ear, foot, and hand dominance will not be on the same side
Difficulty in things that require crossing over the midline of the body
Poor depth perception
Shoulder, neck and hip problems
Even if they don’t display any of these symptoms, it is a good idea to do the quick test on them, as there may be other functions that are affected by it that are still unknown.

Studies

Check out the latest studies on Primitive Reflex Integration. My favorite is the newest study by Harvard.

Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex Tests

Test 1: Have the child stand facing you with arms and hands straight out in front of them. Ask the child to keep that position while turning their head to one side and then to the other. They should be able to move their head only. Look for elbows to bend or shoulders to turn in the direction of the head. If so, their neck movements are still associated with their shoulders and the reflex is most likely present. Exercises are needed.

Test 2: You can also have them get down on their hands and knees like a “kitty” with their head straight out and face toward the floor. Ask them to look to one side then to the other side, keeping their neck and arms straight. When their head is turned to the side, look for elbows to bend or the body to shift from one side to the other. If so neck and shoulder movement is still connected. The reflex is most likely present.