Retained Motor Reflexes

Retained (primitive) motor reflexes are involuntary movement patterns directed by the brainstem, meaning they are not under conscious control. They emerge in-utero and during the early weeks/months of life play an essential role in infant survival and development.

These reflexes have a limited life span and lay the foundation for more precise movement. For ideal development, they should become integrated during the first year of life to allow for more complex movement patterns controlled by higher levels of the brain.

The persistence of these reflexes can indicate issues in neurological development and immaturity within the nervous system. They can interfere and prevent the development of succeeding postural reflexes. Postural reflexes are necessary to support mastery of head control and muscle tone that provide accurate balance, movement and stability to allow the child to control voluntary movement and successfully orient the body in coordination with the visual system.

Postural reflexes and control of movement allows the child to respond to gravity to keep the body stable and minimize body stress. Because eye movements are often considered the most precise and neurologically demanding motor skills initiated by the brain, when earlier movement patterns do not develop appropriately, visual skills tend to be poorly controlled and integrated.

One of the possible underlying causes of academic and/or visual problems may be the retention or inadequate integration of the motor reflexes. Integrating primitive motor reflexes can help patients progress faster during their Vision Therapy program because the skills are built on a more secure neurologic foundation.

A specifically designed motor reflex integration program, unique to each patient, can be incorporated including office-based protocols or a program that can be performed at home. These activities will often supplement a patient’s Vision Therapy program and will focus on the foundational skills of improving the brains ability to efficiently move the body through space thereby helping to establish better neurological patterns fore the brain to more efficiently utilize the eyes for the skills necessary for learning and life.

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