Lets continue the primitive reflexes blog series from last week! 
To Review:
- Primitive reflexes are present at or just after birth and are typically integrated throughout the first year of life; if not integrated the child will experience learning, sensory, and motor difficulties.
- Onset: 32 weeks gestation
- Integration age: 2 months
- This reflex is elicited by a stroke on the baby’s back and they will move into trunk flexion (bent at the hips and knees) and facilitate balance
- Significance: assists the infant in moving down the birthing canal and provides trunk balance/stability that is used for crawling
- If not integrated:
- A child may have ADHD like tendencies
- Fidgeting while seated
- Difficulty focusing on tasks
- Difficulty with motor planning
- Sensitivity to tactile input
- Onset: 37 weeks gestation
- Integration age: 4-6 months
- This reflex is elicited by applying pressure to the infant’s palm and in response they will squeeze your fingers
- Significance: increases palmar tactile input and prepares muscles of the hand for voluntary grasp control
- If not integrated:
- A child may experience poor fine motor coordination
- Difficulty grasping and releasing objects
- Difficulty holding a writing or feeding utensil
Asymmetric Tonic Neck Reflex (Fencing Reflex)
- Onset: 37 weeks gestation
- Integration age: 4-6 months; usually by 6 months
- This reflex is elicited when an infant turns their head to one side of the body and in response the opposite arm will flex (bend) and the opposite leg will extend (straighten)
- Significance: promotes hand-eye coordination, ability to bring hands to midline, and visual processing
- If not integrated:
- The child may have poor reading skills
- Difficulty crossing midline
- Difficulty holding objects at midline
- Eye cannot cross
- Poor visual tracking and reading skills
- Poor handwriting skills
- Two Types:
- Prone (on stomach)
- Supine (lying on back)
- Onset: 37 weeks gestation
- Integration age: 6 months
- This reflex is elicited by an increased extensor tone when placed in supine (on back) and increased flexor tone when placed in a prone position (on stomach)
- Significance: assists infant in changing positions from prone to supine and supine to prone; promotes head control/posture
- If not integrated:
- Difficulty sitting up independently
- Difficulty rolling from side to side
- Difficulty lifting the head up when lying on stomach
- Poor posture
- Poor muscle tone
* Attached to each reflex name are hyperlink videos which will demonstrate how to elicit each reflex!*
