Primitive reflexes

Question 1

What are primitive reflexes?

Answer 1

automatic movement patterns that occur within the first year of life.

These are the first developmental milestones in life

Help for survival and for moving down the birth canal and development in the womb

we should see these reflexes when a child is born, however, these reflexes should disappear around the first year of life.

Question 2

Causes of retained primitive reflexes

Answer 2

C-section, trauma, toxicity exposure, insufficient tummy time, head injuries, excessive falls, emotional trauma (keeping the infant in fight or flight)

Question 3

Why are primitive reflexes important?

Answer 3

Help with the development of balance, stability, posture, mobility, and hearing

Question 4

Moro reflex

• when should it disappear
• how to test the response

Answer 4

2-4 months

have child cross one leg over the other leg
spread arms open wide like a star
reach down and touch toes
(looking for symmetry, balance and control)

Question 5

What are some implications if the moro reflex does not go away/

Answer 5

unable to focus
hyper-sensitive to other senses
decreased immune system
overactivity of the adrenal glands
easily distracted bc always on high alert
impulse control is poor 
the child may run away all the time

Question 6

Rooting reflex

when should it disappear

Answer 6

3-4 months

Question 7

Palmar reflex

when should it disappear

Answer 7

2-3 months

Question 8

What are some implications if the rooting reflex does not disappear?

Answer 8

poor articulation: difficulty with communicating
tactile sensitivity around the face
messy eaters: dont have the awareness
poor manual dexterity 
sensitivity to the face

have to work extra hard to do fine motor skills (moving jaw while also writing etc)

Question 9

What are some implications if the palmar reflex does not disappear?

Answer 9

Poor manual dexterity: hard to grasp on to pencils or crayons, manage buttons/zippers/snaps

handwriting is impacted
intertwined speech and hand movements
difficulty with speech

Question 10

Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR)
when should it disappear
how to test the response

Answer 10

4-6 months

be on hands and knees without sitting on the butt
don’t lock arms
have child keep eyes open
grab ears and gently turn hand to R and count to 10
then turn to the L and count to 10 (count out loud)

(watch for a drop in the elbows or postural sway from side to side)

can also test by having them on their feet
close eyes
feet together and arms out in front with wrists down (flex)
Hold onto ears
Look to R and count to 10
Look to L and count to 10
do this 3x
then go R 1x then L 1x then mid-line
have child open eyes
(looking to see if arms drift out to the side in whichever way the head is turned)

Question 11

What are some implications if the ATRN reflex has not disappear

Answer 11

poor handwriting
difficulty with eye-tracking
diff. with hand-eye coordination (impacts academics)
diff. with tasks that require crossing midline

diff. while holding hand still while writing when head moves

Question 12

Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TRL)
when should this refelx disappear
how to test the refelx

Answer 12

3 1/2 years

stand behind child
feet together
close eyes
wrap hand around ears
tip head BACK first for 10 seconds
let go while counting to 10 to see if there is sway
don't give them stability

then tip their head forward for 10 seconds
then tip head to midline and have them open eyes

ALWAYS HAVE HANDS NEAR THE CHILD IN CASE THEY WERE TO FALL

(looking for a loss of balance, swaying, falling over)

Question 13

implications if the (TRL) refelx does not disappear

Answer 13

diff. with keeping head in flexed postion
diff. paying attention
poor posture, balance
motion sickness
toe walkers
orientation and spacial difficulties
frequently fall over or off chair
hard time sitting
low muscle tone

Question 14

Spinal galant
when should this reflex disappear
how to test the reflex

Answer 14

3-9 months

have the child be on hands and knees
back straight
stroke the back on the L and R side (does not have to be hard pressure)

Looking to see movement, you do not want movement and do not want flexion at the sides. if you see if, then it means the reflex has not disappeared yet.

Question 15

What are some implications if the spinal galant reflex has not disappeared

Answer 15

unable to sit still
poor concentration
poor posture
hip rotation while walking (very lateral)
bed wetting!!! stoke sides bilaterally and urge to pee

IMPORTANT FOR RULING OUT BRAIN DAMAGE AT BIRTH. IMPORTANT FOR BIRTHING PROCESS TO GET OUR OF BIRTHING CANAL

Question 16

Symmetrical TOnic nek reflex (STNR)
when should this reflex disappear
how to test it

Answer 16

9-11 months

Have child on hands and knees
have them look down at knees first 
then have them look up to the sky
(can do this a couple of times for them to get used to it)
keep back flat

(looking for if the elbows break extension and lots of movement. looking to see if there is no control over movements and head control) you will see lots of movement if still present

Question 17

what are some implications if the STNR reflex has not disappeared

Answer 17

poor posture
sits in W position
clumsy: dont have good control bc gravity

diff. with adjustment of binocular vision (hard time seeing far then close up ex: looking at the board in school then paper)

decreased postural stability
hard to move against gravity