Triveni Goswami Vernal
Registered Special Educator (CRR A64010)

The previous blog provided a brief overview of reflexes, focusing more on Primitive and Postural reflexes and the important role they played for the survival and protection of infants and children in their early years.  In this blog, we are going to delve deeper into understanding what a Retained Reflex is and what role it plays in the development of a child.

WHAT IS A RETAINED REFLEX?
As the name suggests, a Retained Reflex is a reflex that was “retained”, that is, it remained beyond the ideal age at which it should have been integrated with the child’s movement patterns and become less prominent.

WHAT DO RETAINED PRIMARY REFLEXES LOOK LIKE?
1)Moro Reflex: Also called a Startle Reflex. It is usually triggered by a loud noise, or change in position. It is an involuntary response found in newborns.
Retained Moro Reflex: Hypersensitivity, Hyperactivity, Anxiety, Difficulty focusing etc. 
2)Rooting Reflex: An involuntary response found in babies where they turn their head or open their mouth when their cheek or mouth is touched.
Retained Rooting Reflex: Difficulty with feeding, swallowing, chewing, speech articulation difficulties etc.
3)Palmar Grasp Reflex: A reflex where the infant’s fingers curl around an object when it is placed on the palm.
Retained Palmar Grasp Reflex: Poor fine motor skills, Poor pincer grasp, Messy Handwriting etc.
4)Plantar Grasp Reflex: A reflex where the infant’s toes curl downwards when the sole of the foot is stimulated.
Retained Plantar Grasp Reflex: Tendency to be flat footed, Toe Walking, Challenges with Running, Gravitational Anxiety etc.
5)Stepping Reflex: It is an involuntary movement response. When placed upright with the feet touching a flat surface, the infant’s legs move in a stepping motion like walking.
Retained Stepping Reflex: Toe Walking, Difficulties with Spatial Awareness, poor Balance etc
6)Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR): Also called the Fencing Reflex. When the head of a baby is turned towards one side, the arm on that side will straighten, whereas the arm on the opposite side, will bend.
Retained Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR): Challenges with eye-hand coordination, balance, mid line crossing and possibilities of learning difficulties.
7)Sucking Reflex: An involuntary response seen in infants that is crucial for their survival. It involves automatically sucking when something touches the roof of their mouth.
Retained Sucking Reflex: Challenges with speech, feeding and oral motor skills.

8)Swallowing Reflex: Crucial for an infant’s survival, this reflex is a result of a complex interplay of various organs such as the mouth and oesophagus, that allows the food to be moved from the mouth to the stomach for digestion.
Retained Swallowing Reflex: Gagging on food, Coughing or choking while eating, Pain during swallowing etc.
9)Galant Reflex: It is the reflex seen in newborn babies where they laterally turn their bodies to the side, they are stimulated on, that is, if their spine is stroked in a particular direction, they tend to curve their trunk towards that.
Retained Galant Reflex: Fidgeting, Restlessness etc.
Thus, we see the far-reaching effects of Retained Primary Reflexes in the lives of individuals, way beyond the age, in which it should have been integrated. Various studies carried out to explore the relationship between Retained Primary Reflexes and Neurodiversity (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0891422216301548, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF03379591, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10759118/) also reveal that Retained Primary Reflexes are often seen in individuals with Autism and ADHD, but it must be kept in mind, that, not all individuals with Autism or ADHD have Retained Primary Reflexes.
The next blog will explore the professionals that can actually work on Retained Primary Reflexes and activities that can be done at home, under the supervision of those professionals.


RESOURCES:
1) https://www.blessingways.ca/plantar
2) Melilo et al, Identification and reduction of retained primitive reflexes by sensory stimulation in autism spectrum disorder: effects on qEEG networks and cognitive functions, BMJ Case Rep 2023 Dec 28;16(12):e255285,doi 10.1136/bcr-2023-255285
                              (Accessed from the website 
                             https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10759118/)
3) Chinello et al, Persistent primary reflexes affect motor acts: Potential implications for autism spectrum disorder, Research in Developmental Disabilities, Volume 83, December 2018, Pages 287-295 (Accessed from the website https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0891422216301548)
4) Konicarova, J., Bob, P. Retained Primitive Reflexes and ADHD in Children. Act Nerv Super 54, 135–138 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03379591
5) https://www.brainbalancecenters.com/blog/retained-primitive-reflexes-sign-brain-imbalance
6) https://www.occupationaltherapy.com/articles/understanding-primitive-reflexes-they-impact-5409-5409
7) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primitive_reflexes

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Author Dr.Triveni Goswami Vernal

Dr.Triveni Goswami Vernal is a Registered Special Educator (CRR: A64010), a Psychologist and an Expressive Arts Therapy Practitioner (UNESCO-CID). She is an Avaz Certified Educator and Certified in Dyslexia Teacher Training. She is also an art educator for children with additional needs.

“Bug”
Acrylic Paints and Acrylic Marker Pens on Watercolour Paper
Artist: Kabir Vernal