Dr. Coty has done extensive research and application with Primitive Reflexes. Being a father himself he knows how important these can be to help your child thrive. The primitive reflexes are involuntary muscle movements that originate from the brainstem. They develop in-utero and are essential during the first few months of life for survival. Typically, by the age of one, all primitive reflexes should be diminished or inhibited as the reflexes have a limited lifespan. As the primitive reflexes are inhibited, the newborn acquires new skills and higher centers of the brain begin to mature and develop. The Primitive Reflexes include the Moro, Palmar, Plantar, Asymmetric Tonic Neck Reflex, Spinal Galant, Rooting, Babinski, Landau, Tonic Labyrinthine, and Symmetric Tonic Neck Reflex.
Why are these important?
The persistence of these reflexes can indicate damage to the brain or can indicate immaturity within the nervous system. Children who have Neurodevelopmental Disorders like ADD/ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorder, Autism, or other Learning Disorders typically have retained primitive reflexes that can contribute to their symptoms and affect learning and their behavior.
How can this affect my Child?
Each primitive reflex is associated with one or more of the sensory processing systems and can affect Auditory, Taste, Tactile, Smell, Visual, Vestibular, and Proprioception. If a child presents with more than one retained reflex, the child will typically experience dysfunction in one or more of the sensory systems leading to a Neurodevelopmental Disorder or Sensory Processing Disorder.