Is Your Child Struggling with Developmental Milestones? It Could be Retained Primitive Reflexes – Here’s What You Need to Know!

As a parent, it’s important to be aware of the various developmental milestones your child should be achieving as they grow and develop. One often overlooked area which can significantly impact a child’s physical, emotional, and cognitive development, are primitive reflexes.

Primitive reflexes are automatic movements that occur in response to certain stimuli and are typically present in infants but should disappear as they grow. For example, the palmar reflex causes a baby to grasp objects that are placed in their hands. This occurs without conscious thought or effort. By the time a child is 2 or 3  months old, this reflex should no longer be active. Primitive reflexes are necessary for survival in infancy, but as a child grows, they should be integrated into higher-level movements, such as crawling, walking, and talking.

In some cases, these reflexes persist beyond infancy and can interfere with a child’s physical, emotional, and cognitive development. This can be due to a variety of reasons, including genetics, trauma, and environmental factors.

Signs and Symptoms of Retained Primitive Reflexes in Children

Retained primitive reflexes can have a significant impact on your child’s physical, emotional, and cognitive development. Children with retained primitive reflexes may experience difficulties with balance and coordination, fine motor skills, posture, attention and focus, emotional regulation, anxiety, and speech and language development. These effects can in turn interfere with a child’s ability to learn, participate in activities, and socialize with others, leading to frustration, low self-esteem, and poor academic performance. If your child struggles with any of these issues, it is worth getting an assessment to identify any potential underlying factors and get appropriate treatment and support.

The Importance of Early Assessment and Intervention

Early assessment and intervention of retained primitive reflexes in children can greatly improve outcomes for the child. By identifying and addressing retained primitive reflexes early on, I can work with your child to integrate these reflexes into higher-level movements.

Contact me for more information or to book a session. Sessions for children are normally in person, but online sessions are available where suitable. Sessions are either 60 or 90 minutes long depending on the age of the child.