Primitive Reflexes: Impact on Everyday Life
Primitive reflexes play an essential role in assisting with the development of the neural pathways to the various parts of the brain by creating connections. These connections are critical for humans’ learning, communication, social-emotional wellbeing, coordination, and behaviors. A glitch in the development of the reflexes can create an unstable foundation in which the individual will continue to be in a fight or flight state.
The primitive reflexes are automatic movements that occur at the brainstem level within the brain. Therefore, the individual does not have a conscious choice in how they react. These reflexes become present as early as five weeks in utero and contribute to vaginal deliveries, the newborn’s initial breath, and the ability to suck for nutrition.
When the primitive reflexes fail to integrate, the retained reflexes may be a factor in learning challenges, developmental delays, sensory processing disorders, vision challenges, lack of confidence, and behavior challenges. In addition, retention of the fear paralysis reflex (FPR) can impact a child by having low self-esteem, extreme shyness, sleeping difficulties, feelings of being overwhelmed, and underlying anxiety. The asymmetrical tonic neck reflex (ATNR) failure to fully integrate can leave a child struggling with dyslexia or other handwriting issues, difficulty with learning to bike ride, decreased ability to cross the midline, and may have confused handedness.
Individuals with retained primitive reflexes do not have to suffer difficulties when provided with the intervention of gentle, slow rhythmical movement exercises that model human development. An occupational therapist like myself can work with the child on integrating the reflexes with simple and effortless movements. The exercises are repetitive and provide proprioception through the joints and muscles to allow the development of the neuropathways to develop through the brainstem.
Parents who have participated in the reflex integration exercises using the rhythmical movement training report them as easy to complete with no equipment or additional cost. They identify that the activities are quickly done daily or as specified by the therapist’s recommendation. The most critical comment from the parents is the positive changes they see in the child’s learning skills, behaviors, and coordination with completing tasks. Some parents have reported that their child wants to attend birthday parties and play sports. Other parents have said that the child no longer has sleep difficulties.
Primitive reflexes are the base of all human development. I want you to consider the following questions. Would you continue to live in your house with an unstable foundation, or would you fix the foundation so that your home was safe and secure for your family and yourself? I would want my house to have a firm foundation, which is why working on the primitive reflex is essential.
References:
Dempsey, M. (2019). Beyond the sea squirt: A journey with reflexes. Integrated Living.
Grigg, T. M., Fox-Turnbull, W., & Culpan, I. (2018). Retained primitive reflexes: Perceptions of parents who have used Rhythmic Movement Training with their children. Journal of Child Health Care, 22(3), 406–418. https://doi.org/10.1177/1367493518760736
