What to Expect

As a result of reflexes being retained, we refer to the collective effect on the system as a developmental delay. Simply put, it means that a child is less developed than is typical for a child of its age.

As the brain develops in stages, beginning with lower levels of function, each developmental stage serves as a foundation for the later, more advanced stages. If there is any interruption to these crucial, early, foundational stages, then this can result in some areas of the brain maturing late. This can have a significant impact on the appropriate functioning of the central nervous system and affect all aspects of physical, cognitive, behavioural, emotional and social development - and particularly learning.

Primitive Reflexes are instinctive, automaitic, reflex movements in babies that help them to survive, grow and develop. You know some of these reflexes. For example, the Suck Reflex: in order to feed, newborns are able to suck automatically the moment that something is placed in their mouths. When you put your finger into a newborn baby's hand, their fingers will close around yours automatically: this is the Palmar Reflex.

There are many more such reflexes which, ordinarily, we quickly grow out of. Usually these reflexes are inhibited by the time we are a year old and replaced by postural reactions which remain for life. As our primitive reflexes are inhibited, the parts of our brain needed for us to learn to walk, run, read, write and so on, begin to grow and develop. These parts of the brain can only develop fully when the primitive reflexes have developed fully and are then inhibited and replaced by postural reactions. If this process has not occurred or has been interrupted at any stage there may be difficulties in learning to do certain things.

A much more detailed breakdown can be found by following the link below

Primitive Reflexes

As a baby's learning and development occur, more mature, complex, higher centres of the brain begin to take control of the system. Early primitive reflexes are no longer needed and must be inhibited to allow more sophisticated neurological organisation of the brain to develop. If these reflexes are not inhibited and replaced with postural reactions, they are said to be retained. This can affect the appropriate functioning of the central nervous system and a child might, therefore, display immature patterns of behaviour: a lack of appropriate emotional, social and behavioural responses; learning difficulties; physical, balance &/or co-ordination issues.

Although some reflexes are tested for at birth, it is an unfortunate fact that they are generally not tested again at 12 months to ensure they have developed or been properly inhibited. Any retained primitive reflexes can lead to a variety of consequences or difficulties in later life, many of which are diagnosed incorrectly as being psychological, emotional or behavioural in nature, whereas in fact they may be physiological and directly related to retention of the primitive reflexes.

Very little is known about the causes of developmental delay, but there is much speculation in the field. Some scientific research suggests that environmental toxins, such as pesticides and lead, may play a part. Other contributing factors may be linked to forms of stress or trauma experienced during pregnancy, such as hypertension, anxiety, loss or bereavement, premature birth, etc. Birthing difficulties or birth traumas may also play a part in developmental delay. There is an overwhelmingly strong case for a hereditary link in terms of behavioural patterns, general co-ordination and learning difficulties.

Retention of Primitive Reflexes can lead to a mild neurological delay which can affect a child in a variety of ways. Some of the more usual are: difficulties with balance and co-ordination (riding bicycles, ball catching, etc.); difficulties with reading, handwriting, and transcription; spatial difficulties, leading to problems with arithmetic; sequencing difficulties, causing problems with recall of, for example, spellings and tables. People with retained primitive reflexes may be very sensitive, quiet and shy. Or, conversely, they may be considered 'inappropriately' emotional, experiencing frequent highs and lows.

Babies exhibiting developmental delay may have difficulty breathing or feeding, poor eye contact or delays in learning to crawl, walk and talk. As a baby begins to develop through childhood, any delay in achieving the expected milestones can indicate an interruption in the normal developmental process (e.g. teething, becoming 'dry' or developing interaction skills). Think about your child's early development. Did they skip any milestones? Did they crawl, bunny-hop or head bang? Did they have difficulty learning to speak, walk or toilet train?

Pre-school and school can also prove challenging as new skills are difficult to grasp: pencil grip is ineffective and handwriting remains a scribble; impulsive and inappropriate behaviour and an inability to stay on task may accompany difficulties with peer relationships. As a child's workload and academic expectations increase, an inability to keep up will become more apparent and they may become stressed and anxious with a loss of confidence and self-esteem. Behavioural changes may follow as this vicious cycle begins to take hold.

Simply put, the effort involved in compensating for these reflexes is exhausting and can become overwhelming.

If you have any concerns and feel your child may have retained primitive reflexes, you can get more information about how Neuro Developmental Therapy can help by contacting us via the links in the footer and the main menu.

This very much depends on the child and their ability to do the exercises. Please contact NDT Inishowen and we can discuss your concerns.

Neuro developmental Therapy can be of benefit for any individual that has retained their primitive reflexes and the benefits and changes are the same as they are for a child. However, if an adult wants to undertake a programme, we suggest that they have a very supportive environment as the changes that occur may release past thought patterns and emotional memories. Discussion with a Neuro Developmental Therapist is recommended to determine suitability.

No. Once the primitive reflexes have been inhibited they remain so, while still being available in cases of trauma, as is the case in normal development. With Neuro Developmental Therapy, the gains made are lasting.

No. A Healthcare professional, such as an Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, Educational Psychologist or Teacher may have identified that your child has developmental immaturity issues and recommend contacting a Neuro Developmental Therapist for further investigation. However referral from a Healthcare practitioner is not essential.

If you have concerns that your child may have retained some of their primitive reflexes and feel that this could be holding them back from reaching their full potential, please contact us for more information or, to start the process, complete the screening questionnaire.

The Process

When you contact us, we will have a chat about your concerns. You will be asked some questions about early childhood development, learning style and character traits, then asked to complete our online screening questionnaire ahead of your first session. All information will be handled in the strictest confidence. You can then make an appointment to meet me for an initial consultation or a full assessment.

More detailed information about the process can be found at the link below:

The Process

NDT Inishowen endeavour to offer a service that is as reasonably priced as possible, with flexible payment options. Many parents compare the cost of Neuro Developmental Therapy with that of educational supports, like 'grinds', and find that NDT costs less. For list of fees, please contact us directly.