Reflexes

When a baby is born, he uses a set of primitive reflexes, which emerged in utero, to help him survive for the first few months of life. These primitive reflexes are ‘automatic, stereotyped movements, directed from the brain stem and executed without cortical involvement’ (Goddard, 2002: 1) and provide training for many later skills. However, these reflexes should not remain active beyond the first 6–12 months of life, because within this time frame higher centres of the brain should have controlled them, enabling more complex neural structures to develop. If this does not happen, the child cannot move on to a stage where he can control voluntary response. Any retained primitive reflexes beyond the first year of life are evidence that there is an ‘immaturity within the central nervous system (CNS)’ (ibid.).

So, what may happen if primitive reflexes are still active after the first 6–12 months of life?

■ The postural reflexes, which develop after primitive reflex activity, may be blocked, preventing the child’s effective interaction with the world around him.

■ This can mean that immature behavior remains prevalent.

■ They can affect the functioning of gross and fine motor coordination skills.

■ Sensory, perceptual and cognitive skills can also be affected.

In fact, as mentioned above, retained reflexes can act like a tied rope, not allowing later learning skills to develop to a state when they occur automatically. For those children with just a slightly abnormal reflex profile, normal teaching strategies will probably be sufficient to help. When there are moderate difficulties, educators will also need to improve balance and coordination. However, as I discovered, when there are a number, or cluster, of remaining active primitive reflexes, then it is most likely that a reflex stimulation/inhibition program will be needed as a neuro-developmental delay exists.