Persistence of primitive reflexes and associated motor problems in healthy preschool children

Abstract

IntroductionRetained primitive reflexes can disturb natural development and involve difficulties in social and educational children’s life. They can also impact on psychomotor development. Mature responses in a child’s psychomotor progress can only occur if the central nervous system itself has reached maturity. The process consist the transition made from brain stem reflex response to cortically controlled response. This study define the occurrence of primitive reflexes in healthy 4–6 years old children and analyze the impact of survived primitive reflexes on psychomotor development.Material and methodsThe study involved 35 participants aged 4–6 years healthy preschool children. The study tools were: primitive reflexes tests by Sally Goddard for children and Motor Proficiency – Test (MOT 4–6 test) in 18 tasks.ResultsOver a half (65%) preschool children had survived the primitive reflexes on the residual level. Eleven percent of them had no retained primitive reflexes. According to the psychomotor ability, 9% of the children were in the category of “altered development”, 29% in “delayed development”, 59% in “normal” and 3% in “very good development”. The greater the severity of the reflex, the motor efficiency was lower (p < 0.05).ConclusionsIt seems reasonable to introduce reflexes integration therapy in children’s with low psychomotor skills. Primitive reflexes routinely tested, can contribute to improved early psychomotor development in children with needs, thus preventing many difficulties which children can encounter within their social and school life.

Persistence of primitive reflexes and associated problems in children

“…In this reflex was also observed more frequent persistence in males than in females. Gieysztor, Choińska, and Paprocka-Borowicz (2016) in their study "Persistence of the primitive reflexes and associated motor problems in healthy preschool children" have noticed that according the psychomotor abilities 9% of the children were in the category of "altered development", 29% in "delayed development", 59% in "normal" and 3% in "very good development". The greater the severity of the reflex, the motor efficiency was lower (p < 0.05).…”

The degree of primitive reflexes integration as a diagnostic tool to assess the neurological maturity of healthy preschool and early school age children

“…Może to być spowodowane różnicą wieku badanych dzieci. 13 Wpływ śladowo przetrwałych odruchów prymitywnych u dzieci w wieku przedszkolnym na ich rozwój psycho motoryczny badała Gieysztor et al 14 Obniżona sprawność psychomotoryczna dzieci w wieku 4-6 lat w sytuacji wy stępowania odruchów prymitywnych była wyraźna. Im większy był poziom występowania odruchów, tym mniej szą sprawnością wykazywało się dziecko w sferze psy chomotoryki.…”

Neuromotorical Assessment of Children Aged 4–7 from the Kamienna Góra District Based on Sally Goddard Tests

“…W badaniach Gieysztor et al [11] poziom integracji odruchów u dzieci przedszkolnych korelował z poziomem sprawności psychoruchowej. Dzieci z przetrwałymi odruchami wykazywały niż-szy poziom sprawności psychomotorycznej.…”