What are primitive reflexes?

Primitive reflexes are automatic, involuntary movements present at birth that help infants survive and develop. Examples include sucking, grasping, and startling. As the brain develops (especially the cortex), these reflexes are meant to integrate meaning higher brain centres take control.

What does it mean when they are “retained”?

When a reflex is retained, it stays active past infancy (typically beyond 6–12 months). This suggests the nervous system hasn’t fully matured or integrated that reflex.

Common symptoms of retained reflexes:

Emotional dysregulation: anxiety, emotional overreaction, sensitivity to noise/light, poor stress tolerance,

Physical and motor difficulties: difficulty crossing midline, handwriting issues, poor coordination, poor fine motor control, speech/ articulation issues, balance problems, motion sensitivity, low muscle tone, poor spatial awareness

Academic difficulties: reading, maths

Attention difficulties: fidgeting, difficulty sitting still, challenges with focus and processing

Who can have retained reflexes?

• Children (commonly noticed in school years)

• Adolescents

• Adults (often undiagnosed)
  
  

How do you address them? 

The idea of neuroplasticity means the brain always has the capacity to rewire if it is provided with the right stimulation. The first stage is to determine whether the reflexes are retained through a neurodevelopmental assessment. If they are, I will design a bespoke neurodevelopmental programme to help integrate these reflexes using a series of exercises that stimulate the nervous system in very specific ways. These exercises are repeated daily until the physical reflex response changes during reviews. This process usually takes 9 - 12 months following which, the nervous system matures and symptomatic improvement should be noticeable 6 - 12 months beyond completion of a programme.

Books

• The Well Balanced Child by Sally Goddard Blythe 

• Movements that Heal by Harald Blomberg & Moira Dempsey 

• Integrating Primitive Reflexes Through Play and Exercise by Kokeb Girma McDonald 

• Beyond The Sea Squirt: a Journey with Reflexes by Moira Dempsey 

• Attention, Balance and Coordination by Sally Goddard-Blythe 

• The Symphony of Reflexes by Bonnie L. Brandes 

• Is that my child? By Dr Robin Pauc

Articles

Effectiveness of a Functional Neurology Intervention on Primitive Reflex Integration (Rey-Mota et al, 2025)

Primitive Reflex Integration and Reading Achievement in the Classroom (Grigg et al, 2023)

Retained Primitive Reflexes and Potential for Intervention in Autistic Spectrum Disorders (Melillo et al, 2022)

Persistence of primitive reflexes and associated motor problems in healthy preschool children (Gieysztor, 2013)