Reflexes

Question 1

What can be defined as an involuntary motor response to a sensory stimulus?

Answer 1

reflex

Question 2

Where do reflexes originate?

Answer 2

in the brain stem

Question 3

What are 2 lifespan reflexes?

Answer 3

• Knee-jerk reflex

- Flexor withdrawal reflex

Question 4

Why is it important to ask about birth history?

Answer 4

Because many reflexes are progressively integrated following a natural birth, but this process may not occur when the progress down the birth canal is missing or modified

Question 5

What are the rooting and sucking reflexes essential for?

Answer 5

nutrition

• rooting=turning head toward brush on cheek
• sucking=suck when something is put in mouth

Question 6

What are 6 primitive reflexes?

Answer 6

• Moro
• ATNR
• Spinal Galant
• TLR
• Landau
• STNR

Question 7

Moro Reflex

Onset: _____
Integration: ____

Answer 7

birth

4 months

Question 8

How does the Moro reflex help development?

Answer 8

• Involuntary reaction to threat
• Fight or flight
• Startle

Question 9

What are a few functional implications if the Moro reflex is not integrated properly?

Answer 9

• motion sickness
• poor balance/coordination
• delayed equilibrium & righting responses
• auditory hypersensitivity
• poor auditory discrimination
• difficulty with transitions

Question 10

What are a few global manifestations if the Moro reflex is not integrated properly?

Answer 10

• dislike change or surprise
• allergies
• lowered immunity
• ear infection
• parents walk on eggshells to keep the world right for their kids
• need to control
• poor stamina
• low self-esteem
• difficulty making decisions
• “glued” to mom or teacher
• sedentary

Question 11

ATNR

Onset: _____
Integration: ____

Answer 11

Birth

6 months

Question 12

How does the ATNR help development?

Answer 12

• Helps develop muscle tone
• Provides vestibular stimulation
• Develops balance
• Decreases chances of breech birth
• Initiates eye hand activities
• Helps initiate rolling

Question 13

What are a few implications if the ATNR is not integrated properly?

Answer 13

• Delayed eye-hand skills
• Poor midline development
• Difficulty crossing midline with hands and eyes
• Difficulty with auditory processing
• Poor organization
• When reaching, one arm extends, other retracts
• One leg left behind during crawling
• Turning body while drawing/writing
• Not spontaneously using non-dominant hand to assist

Question 14

Spinal Galant

Onset: _____
Integration: ____

Answer 14

32 weeks gestation

3 months

Question 15

How does the spinal galant help development?

Answer 15

It is thought to take an active part in birthing process by stimulating lumbar region causing rotational movement of hips

Question 16

What are a few implications if the spinal gallant reflex is underdeveloped?

Answer 16

• Contributes to hyper-tonicity
• Strong ATNR and STNR
• Impeded cross patterns for crawling and creeping

Question 17

What are a few implications if the spinal gallant reflex is retained?

Answer 17

• Fidgeting
• Bed Wetting
• Poor concentration and short term memory
• Hip rotation to one side when walking
• Child may only wear sweatpants (worn low) to avoid stimulation of lumbar region

Question 18

Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR)

Onset: _____
Integration: ____

Answer 18

in utero

36 months

Question 19

How does the TLR help development?

Answer 19

Helps develop a response to gravity

Question 20

What are a few implications if the flexor TLR is not integrated properly?

Answer 20

• Slouched posture
• Low muscle tone
• Dislike of physical activity
• Stuck in flexion

Question 21

What are a few implications if the extensor TLR is not integrated properly?

Answer 21

• Toe walking
• High muscle tone
• Dislike of physical activity
• Stuck in extension
• Poor organizational skills
• Motion sickness

Question 22

Landau Reflex

Onset: _____
Integration: ____

Answer 22

4 months

12 months

Question 23

How does the Landau reflex help development?

Answer 23

• Assists with posture development, sitting and walking

- Helps inhibit TLR

Question 24

What are a few implications if the Landau reflex is not integrated properly?

Answer 24

• Poor muscle tone causing chronic back and neck pain
• Tension and hyperextension of the legs accompanied by stiffness of the lower body
• Affects development of balance
• Ability to flex leg muscles correctly
• Vertical eye tracking
• A limitation of the field of vision
• Poor at sports
• Stiff awkward movements in lower half of body
• Difficulty in hopping, jumping

Question 25

What is the biggest difference between the TLR and Landau reflex?

Answer 25

TLR more about tone | Landau more about

Question 26

STNR Onset: _____ Integration: ____

Answer 26

6 months 11 months

Question 27

How does the STNR help development?

Answer 27

Allows child to defy gravity and assume quadruped

Question 28

The STNR is thought to be integrated when a baby is able to do what?

Answer 28

Crawl and rock back and forth on hands and knees

Question 29

What are a few implications if the STNR is not integrated properly?

Answer 29

- “W” sitting (this position inhibits STNR)  - Poor posture - Hands in pocket - Bunny hop instead of crawl - Difficulty sitting still - Falls out of chair - Clumsy - Poor balance - Not into sports because can’t rely on body - Behavior problems - Poor eye hand coordination - Difficulty copying - Difficulty sitting for fine motor activities