ISSN : 2663-2187

“PREVALENCE OF ACTIVE PRIMITIVE REFLEXES AND ITS IMPACT ON MOTOR SKILLS AND SENSORY PROCESSING IN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN.”

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Dr.Heena Pranavsinh Rathod, Bhoomi Girishbhai Patel, Dr.Anil Kumar Mishra, Dr.Sneha Somrajan
» doi: 10.48047/AFJBS.6.8.2024.3059-3078

Abstract

Primitive reflexes are automatic responses to specific stimuli and are inhibited as the central nervous system matures. The active primitive reflexes(APRs) in preschool children indicate disturbance involving difficulties in social, educational, developmental problems, difficulties in learning, coordination, and attention. Nowadays, many children have delays/deficiencies in reaching milestones and are not able to perform activities in school, and also have reduced ability to process motor and sensory information. Therefore, early evaluation of primary reflexes in preschool children is required. Aim and objectives: To identify the prevalence of active primitive reflexes and it impact on motor skills and sensory processing in preschool children. Method: 107 preschool children (4–6 years old) from schools of Bardoli were checked for the presence of the asymmetric tonic neck reflex, symmetric tonic neck reflex, tonic labyrinthine reflex, Palmer, Galant, and Moro reflex. Motor skills were checked with the motor proficiency test(4–6) and sensory performance with sensory profile 2. Result: over half (86%) of preschoolers survived at primitive reflex levels. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS Spearman correlation. The inverse correlation between reflex test scores and MOT 4–6. The sensory profile analysis indicated that the levels of reflex activity were most closely related to sensory impairments. Conclusion: The relationship between APR and motor skills suggests that APR can affect the motor skills of preschool children, and APR with sensory profile indicates that examination of the child’s primary reflexes is a good screening tool to determine a child’s development.

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