lack of strength or presence of sensory impairment may also affect _________________
motor functioning
INFANTILE REFLEXES
involuntary, subcortical reactions exhibited after sensory stimulation such as head movement, light, touch, and sound
infantile reflexes are usually inhibited or disappear by
six months in typically developing children
3 categories of infantile reflexes
postural
primitive
locomotor
postural reflexes include:
symmetric and asymmetric tonic neck, tonic labrynthine, positive support
PRIMITIVE REFLEXES
- an involuntary response to a specific external stimulation
- consistent pattern, but able to move out of it
- no direct involvement of the higher brain centers
- not volitional (obligatory)
- appear during gestation or around birth
- integrated by ~6mos
grasp, Moro, suck/swallow, rooting, Babinski
locomotor reflexes include
stepping, crawling, swimming
reflexes that _______ can be a sign of neurological problems
persist
ASSYMETRICAL TONIC NECK REFLEX (ATNR)
- stimulated by turning the infant’s head to one side
- face-side extremities will extend; other side will flex
- usually subtle, does not always appear, disappears by 6 months
when neurological damage is present, the ATNR will present as follows:
- very strong when head is turned
- appears every time the area near the head is stimulated
infants with persistent ATNR will have difficulty with
- exploring their bodies with their hands
- bringing their hands to midline
- rolling over
- older children will have difficulty with movements requiring symmetry, such as walking, and using two hands together
RIGHTING REACTONS
keeping one’s head in line with body
BALANCE REACTIONS
keeping oneself from falling when balance is lost
PROTECTIVE REACTIONS
putting arms or legs out to prevent falling when balance is lost
REFLEX INTEGRATION
- gradually show less specific responses; volitional control override
- occurs at a certain age
role of primative reflexes
basis for complex movement patterns protection nutrition survival pattern to assess neurologic maturity; can assess when there has been a neurological insult
in a typically developing infant reflexes are
- not only reflexive motor behavior
- reflexes are fleeting and not obligatory (not stuck in a reflex position)
atypical reflexes
- obligatory
- affect mobility and function
- persistence
- lack of presence
- significantly weak response
- excessively strong response
- asymmetrical response when should be symmetrical
signs of neurological dysfunction indicate
a need for further testing
SUCKING REFLEX
Stimulus: Lips or roof of the mouth is touched
Response: Sucking motion
Nutritive or non-nutritive
Integrate ~ 4 mo. (introduction of solid foods)
Persistence: Choking, speech (will choke if reflex is present)
ROOTING REFLEX
Stimulus: Touch the cheek
Response: Heads turns toward the touch
Nutritive
Integrates ~ 4 mo.
Persistence: Impede rolling, speech, oral motor control
POSITIVE SUPPORT REFLEX
Stimulus: Hold upright, touch soles to surface
Response: B Leg extension
Integrates ~ 2 mo.
Persistence: Impede walking
STEPPING REFLEX
Stimulus: Held upright, feet on surface & weight shift forward
Response: reciprocal LE pattern
*Swimming & Crawling
Integrates ~ 2 mo. or inc. weight
Persistence: Impede walking
PALMAR GRASP REFLEX
Stimulus: Touch palm
Response: Hand closes around
Integrates ~ 4 mo.
Persistence: Hand function
