Startle Reflex

Why Do Primitive Reflexes Reappear After Integration

Posted onAuthorBarbara B.Leave a comment

Many people wonder why some primitive reflexes seem to return or even intensify before improving during or after integration therapies. This question intrigued me as well, so I conducted research to better understand the phenomenon. I had previously observed this firsthand with my daughter, who showed no signs of the Landau reflex until I progressed further in integrating her Moro reflex. Then, the Landau reflex became more apparent and noticeable.

Understanding Reflex Reintegration

To gain deeper insights, I consulted Dr. Robert Melillo, a leading expert in primitive reflex integration with over 25 years of experience. His work, supported by multiple studies and shed light on why these reflexes might appear more pronounced before they diminished.

Children with persistent primitive reflexes often have lower sensory awareness and diminished body perception. Initially, physical or auditory stimuli used to test reflex responses may elicit little reaction. However, as integration progresses and neurological connections strengthen, their response to stimulus increases. This heightened response is sometimes misinterpreted as a worsening of the reflex, leading some to prematurely discontinue therapy. In reality, this reaction often indicates that the integration exercises are effectively enhancing brain function. Stopping therapy too soon may prevent full reflex integration.

 

primitive reflexes return after integration

A Key Exception: Incorrect Hemispheric Integration

In some cases, a reflex may genuinely strengthen if hemispheric integration is applied incorrectly. Hemispheric integration involves stimulating one side of the brain to support an underactive hemisphere. If a clinician misidentifies the weaker side and stimulates the wrong hemisphere, the reflex can become more pronounced. However, when the correct hemisphere is stimulated, the reflex response should diminish almost immediately. Dr. Melillo has demonstrated this principle in a compelling YouTube video recorded during one of his conferences.

Why Do Reflexes Reappear After Full Integration?

Some individuals experience the reappearance of primitive reflexes even after completing integration therapy. Several factors may contribute to this:

  1. Incomplete Integration: Reflexes may appear to be fully integrated but may not have been completely resolved. Some parents halt therapy too soon after noticing a reduction in reflex activity. To ensure full integration, exercises should continue for at least a month after no reflex signs are present.

  2. Developmental Changes: The overall neurological health of an individual can influence reflex activity. Conditions such as ADHD, autism, ADD, or sensory processing disorders may indicate broader neurological imbalances. For example, my daughter, who had ADHD, thrived for years after integration but experienced some regression as she entered puberty. Reintroducing reflex integration and hemispheric exercises helped her regain neurological balance. Brain maturation can sometimes lead to slight shifts in neural connectivity, necessitating follow-up treatments.

  3. Neurological Degeneration or Trauma: In aome cases, brain degeneration or damage may cause the return of primitive reflexes. This can occur due to stroke, dementia, seizure disorders, or degenerative brain diseases. Additionally, physical trauma or psychological stress, such as injury or abuse, may trigger reflex reactivation.

Conclusion

In most cases, properly integrated reflexes should not reappear. If a clinician frequently encounters recurring reflexes, extending the therapy duration and employing varied testing methods may be beneficial. Understanding the underlying causes of reflex reactivation ensures that integration therapies are more effective and long-lasting.

8 Primitive Reflexes That Every Parent Should Know About

Landau Reflex Exercises

Retained Primitive Reflexes have been found to cause neurological underdevelopment in some areas affecting learning, behavior, development, vision and sensory processing. Find out what they are and how to Integrate Primitive Reflexes.

What are They?

Primitive Reflexes are the special reflexes that develop in the brain stem before birth. This set of involuntary Primitive Reflexes help the baby with positioning in the womb, birthing, the first breath of life, feeding, urination etc. Most of these Primitive Reflexes go away  through the first year of life as higher functions of the brain and muscle control develop.

 

If the reflexes remain, they interfere with the neurological organization of the brain which causes learning, behavioral, social, sensory and health problems. These remaining reflexes are unnoticed muscle movements in older children and adults that would not normally be noticed if one did not know what to look for. They cause ongoing issues until they are solved through  exercises.

Primitive Reflex Testing

Primitive Reflexes

What Can Be Done?

If any of them remain past 12 months, they are called Retained Primitive Reflexes and they are a problem. There are simple exercises that can solve each one. This process is called Integrating Primitive Reflexes. Once they are integrated through these little exercises, many Learning Disabilities, Behavioral, Sensory Disorders, and health issues disappear or are greatly improved. You need to check for each of them, even if your child is not displaying the usual symptoms. If one remains unnoticed, it slows improvement in cognitive function. We will soon be adding information on Retained Babinski Reflex.

Symptoms when Primitive Reflexes Remain:

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

Autism Spectrum Disorders

Asperger’s

Hemispheric Imbalance

Sensory Disorders

Hyper Activity

ADHD

Speech Disorders

Social Disorders

Asthma

Dyslexia

Dysgraphia

Dyscalculia

Immune Problems

Other Health Issues

Other Learning Disabilities

This is the first thing to check for. They can solve a multitude of problems. Other therapies or Brain Stimulation such as Hemispheric Integration Therapy, work best if Retained Primitive Reflexes are integrated or are being exercised first or at the same time.

 

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 traumatic birth, lack of “tummy time”, too much time laying in seaters or swings, induced labor, and traumatic C-Section birth. Most of the time, there is not a known reason.

Fear not. These are simple assessments and exercises that can be done 10 minutes per day for a few months. Then stimulate the other brain functions with these cognitive exercises and the Disabilities often go away or symptoms improve amazingly. Click on the individual pictures above to see the tests and exercises.

 

 

8 Primitive Reflexes That Every Parent Should Know About

Landau Reflex Exercises

Retained Primitive Reflexes have been found to cause neurological underdevelopment in some areas affecting learning, behavior, development, vision and sensory processing. Find out what they are and how to Integrate Primitive Reflexes.

What are They?

Primitive Reflexes are the special reflexes that develop in the brain stem before birth. This set of involuntary Primitive Reflexes help the baby with positioning in the womb, birthing, the first breath of life, feeding, urination etc. Most of these Primitive Reflexes go away  through the first year of life as higher functions of the brain and muscle control develop.

 

If the reflexes remain, they interfere with the neurological organization of the brain which causes learning, behavioral, social, sensory and health problems. These remaining reflexes are unnoticed muscle movements in older children and adults that would not normally be noticed if one did not know what to look for. They cause ongoing issues until they are solved through  exercises.

 

 

Primitive Reflex Testing

Primitive Reflexes

What Can Be Done?

If any of them remain past 12 months, they are called Retained Primitive Reflexes and they are a problem. There are simple exercises that can solve each one. This process is called Integrating Primitive Reflexes. Once they are integrated through these little exercises, many Learning Disabilities, Behavioral, Sensory Disorders, and health issues disappear or are greatly improved. You need to check for each of them, even if your child is not displaying the usual symptoms. If one remains unnoticed, it slows improvement in cognitive function. We will soon be adding information on Retained Babinski Reflex.

Symptoms when Primitive Reflexes Remain:

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

Autism Spectrum Disorders

Asperger’s

Hemispheric Imbalance

Sensory Disorders

Hyper Activity

ADHD

Speech Disorders

Social Disorders

Asthma

Dyslexia

Dysgraphia

Dyscalculia

Immune Problems

Other Health Issues

Other Learning Disabilities

This is the first thing to check for. They can solve a multitude of problems. Other therapies or Brain Stimulation such as Hemispheric Integration Therapy, work best if Retained Primitive Reflexes are integrated or are being exercised first or at the same time.

 

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 traumatic birth, lack of “tummy time”, too much time laying in seaters or swings, induced labor, and traumatic C-Section birth. Most of the time, there is not a known reason.

Fear not. These are simple assessments and exercises that can be done 10 minutes per day for a few months. Then stimulate the other brain functions with these cognitive exercises and the Disabilities often go away or symptoms improve amazingly. Click on the individual pictures above to see the tests and exercises.

 

 

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.

 

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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