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Primitive
Reflexes

How often does a medical professional check to see if a neurodivergent person has retained Primitive Reflexes?

This assessment could significantly change the life of someone with ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia etc.

What are Primitive Reflexes?

A primitive reflex is an instinctive, automatic physical reaction to a particular stimulus that occurs without conscious thought. For example, if there is a loud bang, we look around; if we trip and fall, we instinctively put our arms and hands out to break our fall; if we touch something hot, we instinctively withdraw from the source of contact. We have so many of these reflexes.

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Babies are born with a set of primitive reflexes. These develop in the utero and are essential to the birthing process, help the newborn baby take its first breath and support its early survival. They instinctively enable us to perform certain tasks such as feeding, grasping and responding to danger. As human babies are born before their brains have fully developed, they rely on these automatic, instinctive reactions to survive. Primitive reflexes are also crucial to our early development, each teaching us a certain function such as rolling over, crawling, standing and walking.

 

The early survival reflexes are called ‘primitive’ reflexes because they emanate from the lower or ‘primitive’ regions of the central nervous system (i.e. the spinal cord and brain stem). Broadly speaking, the central nervous system develops in stages, “from the bottom up”, starting with the spinal cord and brainstem. The last part of the central nervous system to mature is the cortex, which is responsible for higher cognitive functions, such as thinking, conceptualising and learning.

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All being well, the primitive reflexes should serve their purpose during the baby’s first year of life and should then ‘inhibit’ or ‘switch off’, as the higher centres of the brain begin to mature and take over. They don’t completely disappear but form the foundation for adult postural reflexes which in turn enable the higher more sophisticated centres of the brain to develop.

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Whilst all babies are tested for the presence of primitive reflexes shortly after birth, no follow-up testing is generally carried out to ensure that these reflexes have inhibited. This is a great opportunity missed by the medical professionals. An opportunity to identify, assess and treat at a very early age which could change a young persons life forever. This can lead to neurodevelopmental issues causing phsychological, emotional and behavioural challenges whilst growing up. 

What happens if Primitive Reflexes fail to inhibit?

If for some reason, the primitive reflexes fail to inhibit and remain active beyond the baby’s first year of life, they can act as a barrier to normal development of the central nervous system and prevent the higher centres of the brain (the midbrain, limbic brain and cortex) from taking over the ‘running’ of the central nervous system.

 

As a result, the central nervous system may continue to function at an immature level, causing it to respond inappropriately in certain situations. This can have a significant impact on all aspects of behavioural, emotional, cognitive and physical development. In the case of one of the retained primitive reflexes, it puts the body in constant ‘fight or flight’, leading to over-activity of the sympathetic nervous system which can have adverse consequences for our physical and mental wellbeing, as well as emotional dysregulation.

 

The reason why the retention of primitive reflexes has such far-reaching implications is that our central nervous system develops in hierarchical stages, with each developmental stage acting as the foundation for the next. The primitive reflexes are the first foundations of the central nervous system, and their inhibition is essential to the remainder of the central nervous system being able to develop and function properly.

 

During typical neurological development, as the primitive reflexes are inhibited, postural (secondary) reflexes take their place. Postural reflexes are controlled from the midbrain (the area of the brain which connects the cortex to the brainstem) and their development signifies a maturing of the central nervous system. The postural reflexes should be established by the time a child is three and a half and they remain active for the remainder of our lives. They are responsible for the subconscious maintenance of the body’s posture if there is a disturbance in balance and they facilitate normal (fluid) daily movement patterns.

 

If the primitive reflexes remain active, they prevent full development of the postural reflexes, resulting in poor balance and co-ordination which can have implications socially and in the classroom. 

 

Furthermore, as the postural reflexes form the foundation for subsequent developmental stages of the central nervous system , the absence of postural reflexes, or any weakness in their development, will prevent the higher-level functioning areas of the brain (the limbic brain and cortex) from developing and functioning properly. This can result in behavioural and emotional issues and have an impact on cognitive functions, such as language, conceptualising and academic learning.

What can be the causes of retained Primitive Reflexes?

Very little is known about the causes of developmental delay but there is speculation and some scientific research to suggest that a combination of factors may be involved, including:

  • Environmental toxins (such as pesticides and lead) or ingested chemicals, whether pharmaceutical or recreational i.e. alcohol, nicotine or narcotics. 

  • Stress or illness experienced during pregnancy, for instance; medical problems such as hypertension, severe morning sickness, threatened miscarriage, premature birth or complications during birth and caesarean section.

  • Multiple babies during pregnancy - eg: twins, triplets etc.

  • Problems experienced during birth such as resuscitation, ‘blue baby’, prolonged jaundice, distorted skull or heavy bruising, etc.

  • Adverse reaction to vaccinations, high fever or convulsions in the first 18 months.

  • Genetics / Epigenetics​ - The retention of primitive reflexes can also be hereditary, passed down from generation to generation. 

  • Trauma 

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Neuro-developmental delay can manifest itself in different ways in different children of the same family. For example, it is not uncommon for one child with neuro-developmental delay to struggle academically whilst its sibling is a high achiever. Personality may also of course have an impact on the way neuro-developmental delay manifests itself, so whereas one child with one type of retained primitive reflex may be over-anxious and “shy”, his or her sibling might be hyperactive and explosive. 

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Important - If a child has successfully integrated their primitive reflexes, a sudden or chronic bout of trauma, stress or injury in their life can reactivate these reflexes at any time causing many different issues both physically and mentally. This can occur during childhood as well as adulthood. 

What can be the behavioural and emotional symtoms of retained Primitive Reflexes?

  • Anxiety and fearfulness

  • Panic attacks

  • Low self-esteem and lack of confidence

  • Dislike of change or surprise

  • Shy and withdrawn behaviour

  • Fear of separation from loved ones

  • Difficulty accepting and giving affection

  • Mood swings

  • Depressive feelings and behaviours

  • Defiant behaviours

  • OCD type behaviours

  • Impulsivity

  • Emotional immaturity

  • Aggressive outbursts, both verbal and physical

  • Frequent meltdowns

  • Hyperactivity

  • Oversensitivity to sensory stimuli

  • Avoidance of certain places and situations

  • Excessive daydreaming and fantasising

  • Inability to relax

  • Distractibility

  • Fussy eating

  • Controlling behaviour

  • Constant state of anxiety

  • Low tolerance to stress

  • Problems with concentration and attention

  • Difficulty making eye contact

  • Shallow breathing: breath holding when angry or upset

  • Over- or under attachment to adults and peers; fear of separation

  • Tendency to ‘freeze’ under stress (rather than ‘fight or flight’);  ‘Rabbit in the headlights’ response

  • Extreme “shyness”

  • Constant feelings of overwhelm

  • Excessive fear of embarrassment

  • Fear of social environments

  • Difficulty giving and receiving affection

  • Extreme fear of failure

  • Reluctance to try new activities

  • Intolerant to sudden change (physical and emotional)

  • Selective mutism

  • Negativity and defeatist attitude

  • Compulsive traits and phobias

  • Lack of confidence and low self esteem

  • Fear of change of any kind

  • Feeling stuck - not moving forwards in life, metaphorically or physically

  • Panic disorders

  • Sleep and eating disorders​

  • Poor sequencing skills

  • Poor organisation skills

What can be the physiological symtoms of retained Primitive Reflexes?

  • Lowered immune system - frequent ear, nose and throat infections

  • Digestive problems

  • Allergies - asthma, eczema as well as food allergies

  • Adverse reactions to medication

  • Fluctuating blood sugar levels (minor hypoglycaemia)

  • High blood pressure

  • Sleep problems

  • Headaches

  • Neck and shoulder pain

  • Reduced or increased appetite

  • Poor balance and coordination

  • Difficulty establishing laterality ( i.e dominant hand , eye or ear)

  • Difficulty crossing the midline ( e.g a right handed child may find it difficult to write on the left side of the page)

  • Discrepancy between oral and written performance

  • Issues with smooth tracking of the eyes (necessary for reading and writing)

  • Poor hand-eye coordination (e.g difficulty catching a ball)

  • Poor fine motor skills ( i.e handwriting)

  • Difficulty learning to ride a bicycle and swim

  • Sideways writing – with paper on an angle

  • Inability to sit still and fidgeting (‘ants in the pants’)

  • Poor concentration and short -term memory

  • Bedwetting beyond the age of 5

  • Possible scoliosis (if the reflex remains present on one side only)

  • Hip rotation to one side when walking

  • Hypersensitivity to fabrics and labels and generally fussy about clothing

  • Weak muscle tone

  • Poor sense of balance and tendency to car sickness

  • Dislike of sports

  • Poor sequencing skills, including poor sense of time

  • Visual-perception issues and spatial problems

  • Poor tracking skills

  • Poor posture- toe walking

  • Hypertonus resulting in stiff jerky movements

  • Poor sense of balance and tendency to car sickness

  • Visual-perception issues and spatial problems

  • Simian (ape-like) walk

  • Tendency to “slump” when sitting, particularly at a desk or table

  • Poor hand-eye coordination

  • Messy eating / Clumsiness

  • Difficulties with adjusting focus from distance to near, eg reading from a distance, to then writing it down at your desk

  • Difficulty learning to swim

  • "W” leg position when sitting on the floor

  • Hypersensitivity to sensory stimuli (sound, light, touch, smell and possibly taste)

Sound Familar?

    There is hope!

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The Treatment Programme

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There is a non-invasive, drug-free ‘neural stimulation programme’ available which is aimed at eliminating the underlying causes of developmental delay, rather than treat its symptoms.

 

The programme consists of a combination of tactile skin stimulation and physical exercises, and is designed to mature the central nervous system by inhibiting retained primitive reflexes and allowing adult responses to come to the fore. This gives the central nervous system a second chance to develop, starting at the point where development was interrupted.

 

The programme is specially adapted to meet the needs and profile of the individual concerned.  In some cases, a sound programme may also be recommended.

 

The programme seeks to copy or mimic the stimuli and movements that should have taken place naturally. As babies develop initially through touch (first trimester) and thereafter through movement, we have found the combination of tactile skin stimulation and physical exercises to be very effective at simulating and restarting normal development of the central nervous system.

 

This therapy programme has the effect not only of inhibiting the primitive reflexes and maturing the central nervous system, but also aids the development of autonomy and a stronger sense of ‘self’ and leads to greater confidence and self-awareness. These are essential to bringing to maturity an immature psyche (which often goes hand-in hand with developmental delay) and enables the child or adult to realise their true potential and blossom into the person they were born to be.

 

The programme is done at home and needs to be performed once or twice a day by a parent, partner or self and takes between  3-10 minutes per session. Follow-up visits take place every 6-8 weeks, to check on progress and adapt  the programme, as necessary.  Duration of treatment is usually 12 months according to the individual’s profile, after which a 3-month break is put in place to assess how the “newly developed ” central nervous system is functioning . Following this break, some additional skin stimulation and /or exercises may be recommended.

 

The therapy can be carried out at any age – it is never too late to restart development of the central nervous system and we treat many adults. This is because the brain is ‘neuroplastic’, meaning that it has the ability to change during an individual’s lifetime . By removing the barriers that have prevented it from developing neuro-typically in the first place , we are giving the brain a second chance to do so.

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