Primitive Refelex
Primitive Refelex
Learning Disabilities to
Success
Kathy Johnson, MS Ed
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Kathy Johnson, MS, Ed
• Graduated with Masters in Education,
Curriculum Development and Instructional
Technology
• Started working with students in 2000
• Now, I do a lot of training of trainers, giving
professional development, so I need YOU to
help all those who need it
• www.pyramidofpotential.com
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Building Blocks
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• We have been doing the 6 primitive reflexes daily since October. (My group
consists of 3rd, 4th and 5th graders who are in the bottom 25% when looking
at data.) Most are sped kids but we have some others). The amount of
growth is awesome as we look at the January data points. At a meeting with
the superintendent and assistant superintendent where we were looking over
the data of the lowest students in the school, I told him about my group
and invited him to come watch! He was impressed with the growth in my
students. (even the ones who do not participate in my actual group, I have to
do starfish and fingers 1-2-3 when they come in my room for their reading
support time)
I had a bunch of teachers who were total nonbelievers and giving me a bit of
a hard time, but an amazing principal and another amazing colleague who
understands the basics, helped me persist. Well, that group of teachers all
looked at their data and when they discussed who has made the most growth
and questioned what is in common, it is this " skills group”!!!!!!!!
I can go on and on about how excited I am about how using what I have
learned and how it is impacting so many kids in my school ( and me!). It is
amazing work!
• Carmel, Brain Advancement Coach
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How the Brain Works
• Billions of neurons
• Trillions of connections
• Making or breaking a connection/habit/reflex
– Repetition
– Daily for 21 to 30 days
– Myelin sheath
• Regression
• Made up of fat and water; fuel is glucose
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Brain Development
Brain Development and the Primitive Survival
Reflexes
Overview
Retained vs. Integrated
Ages to integrate
Who can teach exercises
Two ways to test
How to integrate – make changes in the brain
Regression from trauma
Research
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Neuro-Development
•Fear Paralysis Reflex
•Moro Reflex
•Palmar Reflex
•Tonic Labyrinth Reflex
•Spinal Galant
•Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex
•Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex
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Fear Paralysis Reflex
Normally integrated before birth
If retained, could result in:
• Lifelong anxiety
• Chronic fears
• Panic disorders
• Respiratory arrest
• Epilepsy/seizures
• SIDS
• May freeze when:
– Restraint of movement; Inversion
– Perception of shadows; Pain
– Sudden temperature change; Smoke
– Separation from mother; Unfamiliar environment
– Helplessness or hopelessness
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Integration – 7 Step Process
• From Movements That Heal, Harald Blomberg
• 1. Leg Swings
• 2. Side to Side Legs
• 3. Frog Legs
• 4. Knees Toward Chest
• 5. Cross-over Legs
• 6. Cross-over Arms
• 7. Head tilt
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1. Leg Swings
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2. Side to Side Legs
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3. Frog Legs
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4. Knees toward Chest
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5. Cross-over Legs
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6. Cross-over arms right
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6. Cross over arms left
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7. Head tilt
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Moro Reflex
Develops Prenatal to 4 months
If retained, could result in:
• Motion sickness
• Poor balance and coordination, physically timid
• Visual-perceptual problems – Fixation, excessive blinking,
maintaining eye contact
• Light and Auditory hypersensitivity
• Allergies
• Adverse reaction to drugs
• Poor stamina, Hyperactivity followed by fatigue
• Dislike of change
• Hypoglycemia
• Anxiety, Mood swings, Difficulty accepting criticism
• Poor math concepts; reasoning
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Palmar Reflex
Develops Prenatal to 3 months
If retained could result in:
• Poor handwriting
• Poor manual dexterity
• Lack of “pincer grip”
• Speech and articulation issues
• Makes mouth movements when writing or
drawing
• Palm may be hypersensitive to touch
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Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex
Develops Prenatal to 4 months
If retained, could result in:
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Spinal Galant
Develops Prenatal to 9 months
If retained, could result in:
• Fidgeting
• Bedwetting
• Poor concentration
• Poor short term memory
• Sensory integration problems (hyper or hypo-sensitive
in several senses)
• Auditory Processing Disorder
• Near focusing problems
• Difficulty with reading
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Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex
Develops Prenatal to 6 months
If retained, could result in:
• Convergence and horizontal tracking problems
• Right-left confusion
• Visual-perceptual difficulties (b, d, p, q reversals)
• Difficulty skipping and marching
• Difficulty crossing the midline
• Mixed dominance
• Balance
• Poor handwriting
• Poor expression of ideas on paper
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Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex
Develops 6 to 11 months
If retained, could result in:
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What To Do Next?
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