What is neurodevelopment delay?

Neurodevelopment delay is when the brain and the central nervous system do not develop in a normal manner that would effect the person’s emotion, learning ability and memory. There are many causes of neuro-developmental delay, which ranged from genetic pre-disposition, metabolic disorders, immune deficiency, nutrition, physical trauma, toxin and environmental factors.

But now does primitive reflexes link to neuro-development delay?

Primitive reflexes are involuntary movements in response to the environment. Newborn babies have reflexes that are not seen in adults, which are referred to as primitive or neonatal. These reflexes are innate for the baby to response to the environment before any actual learning occurs.  The primitive reflexes will disappear as the baby goes through normal child development. The primitive reflexes should essentially integrate to complex voluntary controlled movements to the cortical brain for development of higher executive functions that are critical to learning and social interactions. But if they don’t that is when an atypical neurology would surface as neurodevelopment delay.

Primitive reflexes:

Moro reflex is known are the startle reaction. This reflex first appears between 28 to 32 weeks in utero, presents at birth and heightens in the first month of life and will disappear normally at age 3-4 months and sometimes last up to 6 months. Moro reflex is a response to unexpected changes felt by the newborn, such as falling, change of temperature, etc.  It is equal to a fight or flight response.

This video shows a newborn displaying moro reflex:

http://youtu.be/7oD6set72lo

What if Moro reflex still retains?

Moro reflex connects to all of the other senses and the prolong effects of its retention is significant:

Vestibular related problems – poor coordination, poor motor planning and poor memory skills, poor balance – clumsiness, motion sickness

Sensitivity to bright lights

Sensitivity to loud noises

Allergies and low immune system, adverse reaction to drugs (vaccination)

Immature behavior, poor adaptability to changes or surprises, mood swings

Oculo-motor and visual perception problems – eye teaming and tracking

Palmar and Plantar reflex is also known as the grasp reflex. This reflex is developed at 11 weeks in utero. It is when something light touches the palm of the hand or the sole of the foot, an involuntary grasp will occur.

The Palmar reflex should disappear by age 2- 3 months and replace by pincer grip. The Plantar reflex should remain with the normal response of toes curling inward towards the sole of the foot or no response. But if the response causes the big toe to flex upwards and the other toes to fan out which is also known as Babinski reflex then it generally indicates an abnormal central nervous system. The Babinski reflex should disappear at age 2.

http://youtu.be/BF1j1PXRq-I

What if Palmar reflex still retains?

Poor fine motor control

Poor handwriting

No pincer grip

Lack of independent thumb and finger movements

Hypersensitivity to tactile stimulation