Primitive reflexes are automatic, involuntary movements that originate in the brainstem and develop in utero. These reflexes are critical for an infant's survival and early development, facilitating functions like feeding, grasping, and responding to stimuli. Typically, these reflexes are integrated into the brain’s higher centers as a child grows, allowing for more sophisticated motor skills, cognitive functions, and behavioral responses. However, when these reflexes are retained beyond the expected age, they can have significant impacts on a child’s development.

What Are Primitive Reflexes?

Primitive reflexes are innate and appear in a specific sequence during infancy. Some of the key primitive reflexes include:

Moro Reflex: Also known as the "startle reflex," it is triggered by a sudden loss of support, causing the infant to throw their arms outward and then bring them back in.
Rooting Reflex: This helps an infant find the nipple for feeding, triggered by stroking the cheek.
Palmar Grasp Reflex: When something touches an infant’s palm, they instinctively grasp it.
Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR): Also known as the "fencing reflex," it is characterised by the infant turning their head to one side, with the arm on that side extending while the opposite arm bends.

These reflexes are expected to disappear or integrate into more mature movement patterns as the child reaches certain developmental milestones, usually by the age of one year.

What Happens When Primitive Reflexes Are Retained?

If primitive reflexes are not properly integrated, they can interfere with a child’s ability to develop essential skills, affecting motor coordination, learning abilities, behaviour, and social interaction. Here’s how retained primitive reflexes can impact various areas of development:

1. Motor Skills Development

Retained primitive reflexes can hinder the development of fine and gross motor skills. For instance, a child with a retained Moro reflex may be overly sensitive to sensory stimuli, leading to difficulties with balance and coordination. This can affect their ability to perform tasks like writing, dressing, or participating in sports.

A retained ATNR can cause difficulties with hand-eye coordination, making activities like writing, reading, or catching a ball more challenging. Children might struggle with crossing the midline, a crucial skill for many motor and cognitive tasks.

2. Academic Performance

Primitive reflexes can also impact cognitive development and learning abilities. For example, a retained Palmar grasp reflex can affect a child’s ability to hold a pencil properly, leading to poor handwriting and frustration with writing tasks.

Retained reflexes can contribute to problems with concentration, memory, and processing speed. A child may have difficulty sitting still, paying attention in class, or following multi-step instructions, which can lead to challenges in academic performance.

3. Behavioural and Emotional Regulation

Children with retained primitive reflexes may exhibit hyperactivity, impulsiveness, or emotional outbursts. The Moro reflex, in particular, can lead to heightened anxiety and an exaggerated startle response, causing a child to be easily overwhelmed by sensory input or stress.

Difficulty with emotional regulation can also stem from the impact of retained reflexes on the autonomic nervous system, leading to heightened stress responses or difficulty calming down after an upset.

4. Social Interaction

The challenges posed by retained reflexes can extend to social development. For instance, a child struggling with coordination and balance may avoid physical activities that involve other children, leading to social withdrawal. Behavioural issues, such as impulsivity or difficulty following social cues, can make it harder for a child to form and maintain friendships. Often children with retained reflexes are (mis)diagnosed with conditions such as ADD and ADHD, autism, or a spectrum disorder.

Identifying and Addressing Retained Primitive Reflexes

Early identification of retained primitive reflexes is crucial for minimising their impact on development. Professionals such as paediatric chiropractors, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and neurodevelopmental specialists can assess for retained reflexes and create individualised intervention plans.

Interventions may include chiropractic care with specific exercises designed to help integrate these reflexes into the brain’s higher centres, facilitating better motor control, sensory processing, and cognitive function. Regular chiropractic adjusting of the spine and nervous system, and practice of these integration exercises, can help the brain form new neural connections, enabling more mature responses to stimuli and improving overall development.

What can you do now?

Retained primitive reflexes can have far-reaching effects on a child’s development, influencing everything from motor skills and academic performance to behaviour and social interactions. Understanding the role of these reflexes in early development and recognising the signs of retention can be key in addressing any associated challenges. With appropriate interventions, children can overcome these hurdles and achieve their full developmental potential. As awareness grows, more parents and educators can support children in navigating these challenges, ensuring a stronger foundation for future growth and learning.

If you would like to have your child assessed to see whether or not they have retained reflexes that may be affecting their optimal growth and development, please contact me for a personal appointment so we can discuss your concerns further.