Primitive Reflexes

Retained Rooting Reflex

Primitive Reflex Testing

 

The Rooting Reflex is important in helping an infant locate food and breast feed. It develops during pregnancy and continues until the baby is about 4 months old.  You will notice the Rooting Reflex in a newborn if you brush your finger down one side of the mouth. The baby will turn toward the stroke and open the mouth. This is normal but should integrate (disappear) by about 4 months. If it is not properly integrated, it can contribute to problems in speech, writing, eating disorders and Thyroid problems. Be sure to do the Retained Rooting Reflex Test shown below on your child.

Children with eating disorders aggravated by a Retained Rooting Reflex will have a constant urge to have something in their mouth, yet are often sensitive to textures. These ones end up being the ones that are always chewing on something plastic, drools, or struggles to form their words properly. The Retained Rooting Reflex can cause the tongue to lie too far forward in the mouth. This can cause difficulty swallowing and chewing their food.

Read More …

Retained Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR)

Primitive Reflex Testing

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. 

Loading...

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.

Retained Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex test

 

 

Retained Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex

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! 

Symetrical Tonic Neck Reflex Exercises

Retained Palmar Reflex or Grasp Reflex

Primitive Reflex Testing

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.

. Read More …

Retained Moro Reflex or Startle Reflex

Primitive Reflex Testing

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.

 

Loading...

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.

Retained Moro Reflex test

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.

Retained Moro Reflex Test

Now do the same with the left side.

Moro Reflex Exercise

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.

 

Moro Reflex Exercise

 

Retained Landau Reflex

Primitive Reflex Testing

 

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.

Loading…
  •  

Read More …

Retained Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR)

Primitive Reflex Testing

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.

Loading...

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.

Retained Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex Retained ATNR

 

 

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.

Retained Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex 2 Retained ATNR

Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex Exercises