2.1- Developmental Assessment- Reflex Testing

Question 1

Flexor Withdrawal: 28 weeks - 2 months

Stimulus? Response?

Answer 1

Stimulus: Pinprick to bottom of foot, supine or standing
Response: Toes extend, ankle dorsiflexes, leg flexes

Question 2

Crossed Extension: 28 weeks - 2 months

Stimulus? Response?

Answer 2

Stimulus: Pinprick to ball of foot, supine, leg extended
Response: Opposite LE flexes, then adducts and extends

Question 3

Traction: 28 weeks - 5 months

Stimulus? Response?

Answer 3

Stimulus: Grasp forearms and pull up from supine to sitting

Response: Flexion of UE

Question 4

Moro: 28 weeks - 5 months

Stimulus? Response?

Answer 4

S: Drop backward from sitting

R: Extension and abduction of UE’s and crying, then flex and adduct UE’s

Question 5

Startle: Birth - persists

Stimulus? Response?

Answer 5

S: Sudden loud noise

R: Extension or abduction UE’s, crying

Question 6

Grasp (palmer): Birth - 4-6 months

Stimulus? Response?

Answer 6

S: Sustained pressure to palm of hand

R: Flexion of fingers is maintained

Question 7

Grasp (planter): 28 weeks - 9 months

Stimulus? Response?

Answer 7

S: Sustained pressure to ball of foot under toes

R: Flexion of toes is maintained

Question 8

Asymmetrical tonic neck (ATNR): Birth - 4-6 months

Stimulus? Response?

Answer 8

S: Rotate head to one side

R: Flexion of skull limbs; extension of face limbs

Question 9

Symmetrical tonic neck (STNR): Birth - 4-6 months

Stimulus? Response?

Answer 9

S: Flexion or extension of head

R: Head flexed gives flexion of arms, extension of legs; Head extended makes arms extend and legs flex

Question 10

Symmetrical tonic labyrinthine (STLR): Birth - 6 months

Stimulus? Response?

Answer 10

S: Supine or prone

R: Supine, all limbs flex
Prone, all limbs extend

Question 11

Positive Supporting: Birth - 6 months

Stimulus? Response?

Answer 11

S: Contact to ball of foot in upright standing

R: Rigid extension of LE’s (co-contraction)

Question 12

Neck righting action on body (NOB): 4-6 months - 5 years

Stimulus? Response?

Answer 12

S: Passively turn head to side, supine

R: Body rotates to align body

Question 13

Body righting action on body (BOB): 4-6 months - 5 years

Stimulus? Response?

Answer 13

S: Passively rotate trunk segment, supine

R: All trunk rotates to align body

Question 14

Labyrinthine head right (LR): Birth - 2 months

Stimulus? Response?

Answer 14

S: Occlude vision and tip body in all directions

R: Head orients to vertical

Question 15

Optical righting (OR): Birth - 2 months

Stimulus? Response?

Answer 15

S: Tip body in all directions

R: Head orients to vertical

Question 16

Protective extension (PE): 4-6 months (arms); 6-9 months (legs); persists

Stimulus? Response?

Answer 16

S: Displace COG outside the base of support

R: Arms or legs extend and abduct to protect baby from falling

Question 17

Equilibrium reactions- tilting (ER): 6 months - persists

Stimulus? Response?

Answer 17

S: Displace COG by tilting or moving surface

R: Trunk curves toward the upward side with extension and abduction of extremities on that side and extension on downward side

Question 18

Equilibrium reactions- postural fixation: 6 months - persists

Stimulus? Response?

Answer 18

S: Apply force to body to alter COG’s relation to the base of support

R: Trunk curves toward force; limbs extend and abduct on the side on which force applied

Question 19

What is APGAR?

Answer 19

screening test administered to newborn at 1, 5, and 10 minutes after birth

Question 20

What does the APGAR screen test assess?

Answer 20

heart rate, respiration, reflex irritability, muscle tone, color with each scored 0, 1, 2

*score of 7 or above is good

Question 21

What is the Neurological examination of the newborn?

Answer 21

• assigns states of consciousness

* tests newborn reflexes

Question 22

Eye blink: permanent (disappearance)

Stimulus? Response?

Answer 22

S: bright light shined at eyes or hand clap near head

R: quick closing of eyelids

Function: protection from strong stimulation

Question 23

Babinski: 8 to 12 months (disappearance)

Stimulus? Response?

Answer 23

S: stroke sole of foot from toe to heel

R: Toes fan out and curl as foot twists in

Function: unknown

Question 24

Rooting: 3 weeks (disappearance); becomes voluntary head turn at 3 weeks

Stimulus? Response?

Answer 24

S: Stroke cheek near corner of mouth

R: Head turns toward source of stimulation

Function: helps infant find the nipple

Question 25

Sucking: Permanent (disappearance)

Stimulus? Response?

Answer 25

S: place finger in infant’s mouth

R: rhythmic sucking of finger

Function: permits feeding

Question 26

Stepping: 2 months (disappearance)

Stimulus? Response?

Answer 26

S: hold infant under arms and permit bare feet to touch a flat surface

R: infant lifts one foot after another in a stepping response

Function: prepares infant for voluntary walking

Question 27

Tonic neck: 4 months (disappearance)

Stimulus? Response?

Answer 27

S: turn baby’s head to one side while lying awake on back

R: infant lies in a “fencing position”: one arm is extended in front of eyes on side to which head is turned, other arm is flexed

Function: may prepare infant for voluntary reaching