What are Primitive Reflexes?

All humans are born with primitive reflexes that help our bodies survive during infancy and support normal development.  Our reflexes are important for survival; they are how we instinctively know to put our hands out when we fall or how a baby knows to breastfeed. However, as we get older, it is typical for these reflexes to develop into voluntary movements through a process known as ‘integration.’

Primitive Reflexes including our Moro (Startle) Reflex, Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex, Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex, Spinal Gallant, Tonic Labyrinth Relax, Palmar Grasp Reflex, and many more typically integrate around 12 months of age, but increasingly we are seeing children with these primitive reflexes retained beyond the typical 12 months of age. 

The retention of the primitive reflexes can come from a variety of factors such as: trauma during pregnancy, trauma during or after birth, exposure to toxins (such as drugs, alcohol, or tobacco) in utero, stroke in utero, caesarian section delivery, premature birth, prolonged jaundice, problems with feeding in the first 6 months of life, developmental motor delays, and minimal floor time as an infant. When these reflexive patterns are retained past 12 months of age this can impact further development.

What are ways to tell if your child has a retained primitive reflex? 

Children who experience the following might have a retained primitive reflex such as anxiety, motion sickness, clumsy, poor hand-eye coordination, poor right and left discrimination, reading challenges, poor handwriting, low muscle tone, decreased coordination, challenges with sequencing, toe walking, w-sitting, bedwetting, difficulties with fine motor skills, picky eating, and hypersensitivity to sound.   Primitive reflex testing is a part of the comprehensive occupational therapy evaluation our occupational therapists do here at Reach for Speech.   For further information about primitive reflexes please speak with a member of our occupational therapy team.  

For further information please see the handouts below. Contact your Physical or Occupational Therapist if you are concerned about your child’s development or schedule an evaluation here at Reach for Speech by calling 724-888-2548.