Primitive reflexes

These are innate movements that we are born with. The repetition of these movements allows the development of skills:

  • physical

  • psycho-motor

  • sensory

  • emotional

These movements create new neuronal connections that enable the emergence of more complex skills.

What are primitive reflexes

baby in white shirt and black pants lying on brown carpet
baby in white shirt and black pants lying on brown carpet

These neurodevelopmental movements are natural movements made by babies intra-utero and during the first 2 years of life.

For various reasons, the integration or expression of these movements may be interrupted or never begin. Thus, the child cannot fully develop. As time passes, the child tries to compensate for these deficits.

Therefore, some children suffer from immature nervous, cognitive, sensory-motor, and emotional systems, which can have varying degrees of consequences.

Unintegrated reflexes can be the cause of many difficulties, including :

  • attention deficit disorder with/without hyperactivity

  • autism spectrum disorder

  • learning difficulties

  • difficulties processing sensory information

  • behavioral problems

  • mental health problems

Consequences

At any age, the brain can catch up with developmental processes that were not finalized and integrated in early childhood.

Neurodevelopmental movements enable the nervous, cognitive and sensorimotor systems to mature.

An individual assessment can reveal which reflexes have not been integrated. By stimulating these different reflexes through specific movements and exercises, and by repeating them, new neuronal connections are created, enabling significant cognitive, physical and emotional transformations.

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