Retained primitive reflexes in children, clinical implications and targeted home-based interventions

Abstract

This article discusses problems such as learning difficulties and behavioural problems that children may experience when they have retained primitive reflexes, which are typically only present in the first few months of life. The authors outline different types of primitive reflex present in infants and how each may affect a child when retained beyond the time when they are normally inhibited. Where relevant health professionals with expertise in this area are not available, children's nurses may need to assess and manage children with retained reflexes. This article explains how a nurse can assess a child for each primitive reflex and describes exercises that can be taught to a child and his or her parents to carry out at home to reintegrate the reflex.