Primitive reflexes are an important part of development for infants, but as children grow, they become a major topic of conversation among parents, educators, and providers who support neurodevelopment. When they remain active beyond infancy, they can influence a child’s behavior, learning, coordination, and emotional regulation. At NeuroHealth Chiropractic, we view reflex work as one piece of a much larger neurological puzzle. A whole-brain, whole-body approach allows children to build a stronger foundation for long-term development.

What Is the Moro Reflex?

The Moro reflex, known as the startle reflex, is a perfectly normal reflex in infants. It is a protective response and is triggered by sudden changes in body position or intense sensory stimulation. This reflex is essential for a baby’s survival and communication. As children get older and their brains mature, the Moro reflex should naturally integrate and disappear. 

When this reflex remains, children may experience a wide range of challenges, including:

• Heightened behavioral responses
• Impulsivity
• Visual processing difficulties
• Learning challenges
• Trouble adapting to change
• Dyslexia or dyscalculia
• ADHD 
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Emotional or social immaturity
• Balance and coordination difficulties
• Motion sickness
• Allergies or decreased immune resilience
  
  

Some children with Down Syndrome or Cerebral Palsy are also commonly observed to have unintegrated reflexes as well.

Other Primitive Reflexes and Why They Matter

The Moro reflex is the most well-known reflex and plays one of the biggest roles in early brain development, but it is just one of many primitive reflexes in infants. Just like the Moro reflexes, if they remain and don’t integrate, they can disrupt the nervous system’s ability to process information efficiently.

1. ATNR (Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex) – This reflex appears when a baby turns their head, causing the arm and leg on the same side to extend while the opposite limbs bend. If it remains, it can lead to poor handwriting, difficulty crossing midline, challenges with reading or tracking words, and clumsy gait or posture issues.
   
   
2. STNR (Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex) – Essential for transitioning from lying down to crawling. If it remains, it can lead to poor sitting posture, difficulty with swimming, biking, or sports, challenges with copying from a board,  and trouble coordinating upper and lower body movement.
   
   
3. TLR (Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex) – Controls muscle tone in response to head position. If it remains, it can lead to balance struggles, toe walking, poor spatial awareness, and motion sickness.
   
   
4. Spinal Galant Reflex – Triggered by stimulation along the side of the spine. If it remains, it can lead to fidgeting, bedwetting, poor focus, and discomfort with tight clothing or tags.
   
   
5. Palmar Reflex – The hand-grasp reflex in infancy. If it remains, it can lead to poor pencil grip, difficulty with writing or fine motor tasks, and increased sensitivity in the hands.
   
   
6. Rooting and Sucking Reflexes – Vital for feeding early in life. If it remains, it can lead to speech challenges, difficulty with oral motor control, messy eating, and poor articulation.
   
   
7. Babinski Reflex – An infant reflex involving toe movement when the foot is stroked. If it remains, it can lead to poor coordination, balance challenges, and sensory processing difficulties.
   
   

Knowing more about all these reflexes helps explain why they are important for infants, but can be detrimental if not integrated as their brains develop. It helps us understand why some children struggle with everyday tasks that require coordinated motor, sensory, and cognitive function. It also gives us the information we need to help them improve their brain’s ability to process information and come up with appropriate responses. 

What an Unintegrated Reflex Can Look Like

(Add video here) At NeuroHealth, we recently had a young patient who demonstrated a pronounced Moro reflex, where even small shifts in balance triggered an exaggerated startle response. This patient has difficulty focusing and challenges with self-regulation. To help with early development and prevent sensory or behavioral challenges in the future, we created personalized neuro programs to help build a stronger brain-body connection. 

How Reflex Integration Works

A common question that parents have when their children start this program in how long reflex integration takes. Every child responds differently and has difficulties wth different things, but the right neurological input can create meaningful change quickly. By using targeted co-activation techniques, we can stimulate specific neural pathways to help organize and settle retained reflexes. In the case of the patient featured in the videos, significant improvement occurred after the first session, and full integration occurred by the second. Although timelines vary, the goal is the same: strengthen and reorganize the brain through precise, intentional stimulation.

Why This Matters for Long-Term Development

Integrating primitive reflexes is not just about eliminating specific movements or behaviors. It’s about giving the brain a stable foundation for more advanced skills to develop.

Once reflexes integrate, children often see improvements in:

• Emotional regulation
• Focus and learning
• Motor planning
• Balance and coordination
• Reading and writing
• Sensory processing
• Confidence and independence

Primitive reflexes are only one part of the comprehensive care we offer, but they play an essential role in helping children reach their full potential.

Need extra support? That’s what Neuro Health is here to do. Set up an initial evaluation, and we’ll work with you to personalize a care plan to strengthen and support your child’s nervous system with customized chiropractic care.