How Primitive Reflexes Affect Mental Health and Emotional Well-Being

Written By Leah Lennox

Babies are born with built-in reflexes that help them survive and grow. These automatic movements, called primitive reflexes, help babies learn to move, balance, and process sensory information. Normally, these reflexes naturally fade away, or integrate, as the child grows. But when they don’t, they can cause problems with focus, movement, and emotional regulation. Let’s explore how these reflexes can affect a child's physical and emotional development and what can be done to help.

Moro Reflex: The "Fight-or-Flight" Reflex

The Moro reflex, also known as the startle reflex, helps babies respond to sudden changes. It should integrate by about 4 months of age. If it doesn’t, it can make someone feel constantly on edge, leading to:

  • Anxiety and nervousness

  • Sensitivity to light, sound, or touch

  • Trouble handling stress or changes

  • Sleep problems

ATNR: The Reflex That Affects Learning

The Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR) helps babies develop eye-hand coordination. It should disappear by about 9 months old. If it sticks around, it can cause:

  • Trouble with handwriting and reading

  • Difficulty focusing and paying attention

  • Poor coordination between both sides of the body

  • Eye tracking issues

STNR: The Posture and Concentration Reflex

The Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR) helps babies transition from lying down to crawling. It should fade by about 11 months. If not, it can lead to:

  • Poor posture (i.e., slouching, sitting with legs in a “W” shape)

  • Difficulty copying from the board at school

  • Trouble focusing on near and far objects

  • Restlessness and fidgeting

TLR: The Balance and Gravitational Security Reflex

The Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR) helps babies learn about gravity and assists with head and neck control. If it doesn’t integrate properly, it can cause:

  • Poor coordination and balance

  • Trouble with depth perception

  • Toe walking

  • Fear of heights 

Spinal Galant Reflex: The Hidden Cause of Fidgeting

The Spinal Galant Reflex helps babies move through the birth canal. It should integrate by 9 months old, but if it doesn’t, it may lead to:

  • Constant fidgeting

  • Bedwetting past an expected age

  • Poor posture and endurance

  • Difficulty concentrating

How to Help Integrate these Reflexes

If these reflexes are still present, a person may be stuck in a stress response, making it difficult to focus, stay calm, or control their emotions. The good news is, it is possible for them to be fully integrated! With the help of a trained occupational therapist, we can learn whether a primitive reflex is still present, instruct and prescribe a specific primitive reflex integration exercise program, and provide your family with activities and strategies you can easily incorporate into your daily routine to help integrate the reflex(es). Some simple strategies and activities to start implementing today include:

  • Gentle movement exercises

  • Deep pressure techniques (i.e., weighted blankets or "stuffies," bear hugs)

  • Alternative seating options (i.e., slant board, hokki stool, standing desk)

  • Yoga and mindfulness practices 

  • Sensory play (i.e., sensory bins, using fidgets, manipulating play-doh or sand)

By adding these strategies into daily routines, kids and adults can feel more in control, focused, and emotionally balanced. Understanding primitive reflexes gives us another tool to support mental health and overall well-being! 

To learn more about primitive reflex integration and our occupational therapy services, schedule a call with us today!

Leah Lennox
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