What are Primitive Reflexes

 

• ​At birth, primitive reflexes are present to assist in survival - many develop in utero. These involuntary movement patterns are designed to keep the newborn alive and help with development throughout infancy.

• They are "automatic, stereotyped movements, directed from the brain stem and executed without cortical involvement." (Goddard)

• The kicker here is that these primitive reflexes do not stay forever; they should integrate - or mature.

• Some primitive reflexes integrate before the first year, while some integrate as late as 3 years.

• When a primitive reflex integrates, it makes way for new, more mature and intentional movement patterns, and higher-level learning to develop.

   

How do primitive reflexes naturally integrate?

• Primitive reflexes are not meant to remain in the body forever. Once they integrate, more mature and voluntary movements appear.

• Primitive reflexes are meant to integrate naturally - through movement, or what we call "developmental milestones."

• Developing head control, tummy time, rolling, crawling, etc. - these are all examples of natural movements that will assist in natural primitive reflex integration.

• When you look closely, you can often seen primitive reflexes integrate as new developmental milestones are reached!

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What if primitive reflexes do not integrate?

• Each primitive reflex comes with its own set of movements and leads to new and different developmental milestones.

• If a specific reflex is retained, it may affect a specific area of development.

• Additionally, many reflexes are directly related to one another. Therefore, if one reflex is retained, we can assume that others may also be retained.

• If a primitive reflex does not integrate naturally, this is an indication of structural weakness or immaturity within the CNS (central nervous system).

• Instead of mature, voluntary movement patterns, a child with retained primitive reflexes may develop abnormal movement patterns which can result in clumsiness. This can affect a child's ability to participate in daily activities.

 

​When children retain Primitive Reflexes, they will often struggle with:

 

• ​​Social Skills

• Coordination for playing games or sports

• Emotional Regulation

• Problem Solving

• Focusing in Class

• Ants in Their Pants

• Reading and writing

• Anxiety

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How do I know if my child has Retained Primitive Reflexes?
(or maybe if I have one, or two as well?)

 

Here are some common behaviors of people who have Retained Primitive Reflexes:

• motion sickness

• anxiety/nervousness

• mood swings

• frequent headaches

• fatigues easily

• presents with ADD/ADHD tendencies

• poor social skills

• poor balance

• poor muscle tone

• poor posture (seated/standing)

• fear of heights

• abnormal gait

• fidgeting

• decreased concentration

• bed wetting beyond age 5

• irritated by clothing on waist

• frequent middle ear infections

• IBS over the age of 4 years

• poor handwriting

• right/left confusion

• mixes b's and d's during writing

• did not crawl/skipped crawling as a baby

• struggled with rolling in infancy

• lays head on desk while writing

• biting fingernails

• thumb sucking beyond 1.5 years old

• tightening of jaw with clenched fists

• eats with hands rather than utensils

• extreme picky eating

• messy eater

• difficulty chewing/swallowing

• tethered oral tissues

• reading difficulties

• ants-in-the-pants

• challenges calming down

• poor impulse control