PRIMITIVE REFLEX ASSESSMENT
May 26, 2023 2023-06-13 14:59PRIMITIVE REFLEX ASSESSMENT
PRIMITIVE REFLEX ASSESSMENT
Primitive reflexes develop while a baby is being developed.
They are active for the first few months after birth. These reflexes are responsible for the survival and movements of a baby from conception to the first few months after birth.
When we talk about reflexes, we think of uncontrollable, spontaneous, immediate, and involuntary actions. The way we breathe, sneeze, and walk are all controlled by reflexes.
Infants have a range of uncoordinated movements beginning with crying, grimacing, twitching, tight palmar grasping, kicking, and stretching, then they begin rocking, social smiling, crawling, and creeping. All these movements are controlled by primitive reflexes. These reflexes are essential for a smooth transition to coordinated movements and postural control such as standing, walking, and behavioral and emotional control.
As the brain develops, more complex neural networks are formed leading to connections to the higher level of the brain.
Primitive reflexes are important to be able to gain control of voluntary movement. Most of these reflexes should be inhibited by 6 months of age, however, if for some reason they are still active, then they act as a barrier to learning, sensory processing, and emotional maturity of a child.
The following questions are meant to screen how integrated the reflexes are for your child
