Primitive Reflex Integration Case Studies

Submitted by LT, parent

AT is my 12-year-old daughter who is neuro-typical, a high achiever academically and very sociable. However, she has always had some dyspraxic tendencies, struggling with sports, sensitive to clothing and loud noises, and very fidgety; she was also born by emergency C-section. 

After doing the assessment on her I realize she has many retained reflexes that explain this. I didn’t understand how much impact all this has had on her and she has tried hard to compensate and deal with these issues. In one of the Q & A sessions you explained to me that any retained reflex is actually a developmental delay and this made me realize how she had silently struggled all this time and actually coped remarkably well. I hope as we work to integrate these reflexes life will become so much easier for her as she will not be using energy just to sit still and retain focus. 

We started out with just one Rhythmic Movement [from the Brain and Sensory Foundations course]. We both sang a song together to keep the rhythm. 

We added in the other Rhythmic Movements she found most easy to do, other than windscreen wipers. 

Naturally she was also homolateral in trying to do cross crawl but in time she got into the swing of it and it became her natural pattern in the end. We also introduced  before any homework and when getting in from school, we kept this routine going for a few weeks before starting any reflex integration. 

The first Primitive Reflexes [from the Brain and Sensory Foundations course] I introduced in week one were the Plantar/Babinski footwork and Spinal Galant [Reflex] as AT had significant issues with these and I thought she would be able to cope starting here alongside RM and the Brain Tune-up, we stuck with this for 2 weeks. Week three we brought in TLR [Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex]and alternated the Isometrics daily. Week four introduced Palmar/Babkin [Reflex] and continued alternating all these through week five. Head Righting was added in week six followed by ATNR [Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex] and Moro [Reflex].

Weeks nine and ten we continued consolidating and alternating everything so far. Lots of tummy time games on the floor with ST, trampolining and spinning in chairs eyes open/eyes closed. By week 11 I felt ready to start working on FPR [Fear Paralysis Reflex], stimulating first then alternating between tapping points, wrapping hands over index finger and squeezing and placing hands over kidneys to sooth. A couple more weeks doing the same until week fourteen when I added the final reflex STNR [Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex], which had been a tricky one for AT in assessment. 

Throughout this time AT has done the movements most of the time without too much complaint but there were times when it was tough and lockdown has had an effect on everyone. There seemed to be more obvious behavioral challenges in her, which often resorted in tears and lashing out. Thankfully, this has finally started to calm down. Looking at the improvements she has made over the past 6 months I am hopeful that she will begin to see the benefits herself. 

AT has enjoyed playing outside in the garden as lock down allowed her more freedom, despite virtual school lessons. She really wanted to improve her tennis as she was hitting the ball up against a wall and was only managing around 3 consecutive volleys without missing. I suggested we do a 5 Step Balance [from the Brain and Sensory Foundations course] to try to improve her game. She visualized hitting the tennis ball consistently against the wall and not missing, as her goal, we acted it out together playfully. Next, we ran around the garden hopping, skipping and chasing each other for a few minutes. The support re-patterning sequence AT thought was silly and could not imagine how it would help but I managed to convince her to try. We drank some water and re-enacted the goal and I got her to do some up and down head movements as a reflex stimulation and also crawl around for a few seconds looking left and right. Then the moment of truth, she picked up the tennis ball and immediately managed a volley of 20 hits without missing. She was stunned, even I was a little surprised at the immediate effect. This was one such time that she was impressed with what I was asking her to do! 

We had been working for some time to master a handstand, due to the lack of upper body strength this has been a struggle for AT and she was fed up at not being able to do the sporty things her friends can do. I suggested another 5 Step Balance. Again, the results were immediate, before she could only donkey kick and not get her legs up high. After visualization and re-patterning she did a big strong kick and I held her legs vertically supporting her and she was able to hold for a few seconds. She was thrilled and we have been practicing ever since. She can now do the handstand alone. Next stop cartwheels! 

Over time I have noticed her hand placement in quad has much improved, no longer using fists, hands face forward now but there is some cupping, so still further work to do here. 

After a few months AT was starting to lay straight without the need for adjustment when laying in supine and she has better core strength. So without doubt huge improvements in six months, Head righting [Reflex] now only has minimal challenge and Spinal Galant [Reflex] now appears to be integrated. We continue to work on the movements and reflexes until they all become this way and look forward to seeing what the next level will bring.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the course; it has taught me so much about child development which I did not know. Thank you for the fantastic support you have given me.

[Edited for length and clarity, emphasis added]