Do You have Retained Primitive Reflexes?

Let’s find out!

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Once your form is finished, it will be emailed to us. We will have a chance to look at it before your next appointment to save us all time.
Please note: if we don’t receive your form before your appointment, we will have to reschedule it.

Thank you for your understanding and see you soon!

Dr. Melanie, Dr. Laurence, Dr. Leah

And while you’re waiting for your appointment,
here is a bit more about Primitive Reflexes!

The information presented on this webpage is printed with permission from Harkla.co

Primitive Reflexes….

  • At birth, primitive reflexes are present to assist in survival - many develop in utero. These involuntary movement patterns are designed to keep the newborn alive and help with development throughout infancy.

  • They are "automatic, stereotyped movements, directed from the brain stem and executed without cortical involvement." (Goddard)

  • The kicker here is that these primitive reflexes do not stay forever; they should integrate - or mature.

  • Some primitive reflexes integrate before the first year, while some integrate as late as 3 years.

  • When a primitive reflex integrates, it makes way for new, more mature and intentional movement patterns, and higher-level learning to develop.

How do primitive reflexes naturally integrate?

  • Primitive reflexes are not meant to remain in the body forever. Once they integrate, more mature and voluntary movements appear.

  • Primitive reflexes are meant to integrate naturally - through movement, or what we call "developmental milestones."

  • Developing head control, tummy time, rolling, crawling, etc. - these are all examples of natural movements that will assist in natural primitive reflex integration.

  • When you look closely, you can often seen primitive reflexes integrate as new developmental milestones are reached!

What if primitive reflexes do not integrate?

  • Each primitive reflex comes with its own set of movements and leads to new and different developmental milestones.

  • If a specific reflex is retained, it may affect a specific area of development.

  • Additionally, many reflexes are directly related to one another. Therefore, if one reflex is retained, we can assume that others may also be retained.

  • If a primitive reflex does not integrate naturally, this is an indication of structural weakness or immaturity within the CNS (central nervous system).

  • Instead of mature, voluntary movement patterns, a child with retained primitive reflexes may develop abnormal movement patterns which can result in clumsiness. This can affect a child's ability to participate in daily activities.

Retained Primitive Reflexes affect EVERYTHING

〰️

Retained Primitive Reflexes affect EVERYTHING 〰️

When children retain Primitive Reflexes, they will often struggle with:

  • Social Skills

  • Coordination for playing games or sports

  • Emotional Regulation

  • Problem Solving

  • Focusing in Class

  • Ants in Their Pants

  • Reading and writing

  • Anxiety

What causes a Primitive Reflex to NOT integrate?

  • During Pregnancy

    Hyperemesis or severe morning sickness

    Severe viral infection during the first 12weeks or between 26-30 weeks

    Alcohol / drug use / medications/smoking

    Severe stress or trauma, especially during weeks 25-27

    Stroke in utero

    Conceived as a result of IVF

  • During Birth

    Premature birth

    Prolonged or fast labor

    Assisted delivery, i.e. use of force vacuum extraction

    Trauma during birth

    Induced labor

    Caesarean section delivery

    Cord wrapped around infant's neck; fetal distress

  • After Birth

    Prolonged jaundice

    Torticollis

    Developmental motor delays

    Minimal floor time as an infant

    Low birth weight

    Excessive use of containers during infancy

  • Infancy - Toddlerhood

    Problems with feeding within the first 6 months of life

    Tongue / lip tie

    Cerebral Palsy or other physical disability

    Down Syndrome or other intellectual disability

    Severe traumatic event

    Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

    Epilepsy

    Autism

This is not an exhaustive list, but simply some potential factors that have been identified in correlation with retained primitive reflexes.
These factors, however, are not a guarantee that a child’s primitive reflexes will be retained

How do I know if my child has Retained Primitive Reflexes?
(or maybe if I have one, or two as well???!)

Here are some common behaviours of people who have Retained Primitive Reflexes:

  • motion sickness

  • anxiety/nervousness

  • mood swings

  • frequent headaches

  • fatigues easily

  • presents with ADD/ADHD tendencies

  • poor social skills

  • poor balance

  • poor muscle tone

  • poor posture (seated/standing)

  • fear of heights

  • abnormal gait

  • fidgeting

  • decreased concentration

  • bed wetting beyond age 5

  • irritated by clothing on waist

  • frequent middle ear infections

  • IBS over the age of 4 years

  • poor handwriting

  • right/left confusion

  • mixes b's and d's during writing

  • did not crawl/skipped crawling as a baby

  • struggled with rolling in infancy

  • lays head on desk while writing

  • biting fingernails

  • thumb sucking beyond 1.5 years old

  • tightening of jaw with clenched fists

  • eats with hands rather than utensils

  • extreme picky eating

  • messy eater

  • difficulty chewing/swallowing

  • tethered oral tissues

  • reading difficulties

  • ants-in-the-pants

  • challenges calming down

  • poor impulse control

How We Can Help

Both children AND adults can have Retained Primitive Reflexes

Dr. Melanie, Dr. Laurence and Dr. Leah have taken extra courses and seminars to learn how to assess and treat people with retained primitive reflexes

  • We will have you fill out a comprehensive intake form that will help us to focus on which reflexes might be retained

  • We will do a thorough chiropractic and neurological exam

  • We will make an individualized plan for you and/or your child that will include chiropractic adjustments and home exercises

    These home exercises must be done twice a day for at least 30 days for your nervous system to integrate the retained primitive reflexes

  • Then we will re-exam to assess and plan again

If you would like more information, or to
make an appointment with one of our Doctors,
please call us at 403-945-2422

The information presented on this webpage was created by
Rachel Harrington and Jessica Hill, both occupational therapists at Harkla

We have been given permission by them to post this information
on our website and to give their handouts to our patients

For more information about their courses for
professionals and parents, please click here