Reflex Integration
Integrating Reflexes to Improve Motor Development
At Hummingbird Pediatric Therapies, we specialize in helping children develop essential skills for growth and learning. One area of development we may address is if your child has retained any primitive reflexes that can affect motor development and cognitive functions. Occupational therapy services can incorporate reflex integration techniques to help children overcome related challenges, promoting smoother development and greater success in everyday activities.Â
What are primitive reflexes?
Primitive reflexes are involuntary movements that are present in early development that lay the foundation for the nervous system. As these reflexes integrate, they allow for controlled, voluntary movements supporting higher learning processes. However, when reflexes persist beyond the expected age, they interfere with development, learning, and daily activities.​
Some commonly retained reflexes include:
Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR):
Related to development of eye-hand coordination
Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR):
Related to dissociation of movement between the top half and bottom half of the body
Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR):
Related to development of balance, muscle tone, vestibular processing
Moro Reflex:
Related to protective responses to changes in movement or perceived danger
Spinal Galant Reflex:
Related to mobility of hips, hypersensitivity of clothing to lower back, bedwetting
Palmar Grasp Reflex:
Related to with development of hand motor skills
How can reflex integration help my child’s development?
Retained primitive reflexes may contribute to difficulties in the following areas:
Crossing Midline
Hand-Eye Coordination
Bilateral Coordination
Hand Dominance
Handwriting
Attention and Focus
Impulse Control
Emotional Regulation
Clothing Sensitivity
Auditory Sensitivity
Bedwetting
Toe Walking, and more!
Occupational therapy services can incorporate reflex integration techniques to help children overcome these challenges, promoting smoother development and greater success in everyday activities. Â