Pediatric Reflexes

Question 1

Asymmetric Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR)

Answer 1

Stim: head turned to one side
Response: arm and leg on face-side extend, arm and leg on scalp-side flex, spine curved convexly toward face-side
Normal Age: birth-6 months

Question 2

Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR)

Answer 2

Stim: head flexed/extended
Response: w/head in flex- arms flexed, legs extended
w/ head in ext- arms extended, legs flexed
Normal Age: 6-8 months

Question 3

Effects of Abnormal ATNR on Movement

Answer 3

Interferes w/: feeding, visual tracking, midline use of hands, bilateral hand use, rolling, development of crawling, may lead to skeletal deformities

Question 4

Effects of Abnormal STNR on Movement

Answer 4

Interferes w/: ability to prop up on arms in prone, attaining/maintaining hands-and-knees position, reciprocal crawling, sitting balance when looking around, use of hands when looking at object in hands

Question 5

Tonic Labyrinth Reflex (TLR)

Answer 5

Stim: position of inner ear labyrinth- reflected through head position
Response: in supine- body/extremities held in ext
in prone- body/extremities held in flex
Normal Age: birth to 6 months

Question 6

Effects of Abnormal TLR on Movement

Answer 6

Interferes w/: ability to initiate rolling, ability to prop up on elbows w/ ext hips in prone, ability to flex trunk & hips to come into sitting form supine, often causes full body ext-interferes w/ balance in sitting/standing

Question 7

Galant Reflex (GR)

Answer 7

Stim: touch to skin along spine form shoulder to hip
Response: lateral flexion of trunk to the same side as stimulus
Normal Age: 30wks gestation-2 months

Question 8

Effects of Abnormal GR on Movement

Answer 8

Interferes w/: development of sitting balance, can lead to scoliosis

Question 9

Palmar Grasp Reflex

Answer 9

Stim: pressure in palm on ulnar side of hand
Response: flexion of fingers causing strong grip
Normal Age: birth-4 months

Question 10

Effects of Abnormal Palmar Grasp on Movement

Answer 10

Interferes w/: ability to grasp/release object voluntarily, weight bearing on open hand for propping up/ crawling/ protective responses

Question 11

Plantar Grasp Relfex

Answer 11

Stim: pressure to base of toes
Response: toe flexion
Normal Age: 28 wks gestation- 9 months

Question 12

Effects of Abnormal Plantar Grasp on Movement

Answer 12

Interferes w/: ability to stand w/ feet on flat surface, balance reactions/weight shifting in standing

Question 13

Rooting Reflex

Answer 13

Stim: touch on cheek
Response: turning head to same side as stim w/ mouth open
Normal Age: 28 wks gestation- 3 months

Question 14

Effects of Abnormal Rooting on Movement

Answer 14

Interferes w/: oral-motor development, development of midline control of head, optical righting, visual tracking and social interraction

Question 15

Moro Reflex

Answer 15

Stim: head dropping into ext suddenly for a few inches
Response: arms ABduct w/ fingers open, then cross trunk into ADduct; crying
Normal Age: 28 wks gestation- 5 months

Question 16

Effects of Abnormal Moro on Movement

Answer 16

Interfers w/: balance reactions in sitting, protective responses in sitting, hand-eye coordination, visual tracking

Question 17

Startle Reflex

Answer 17

Stim: Loud, sudden noise
Response: similar to Moro- but elbows remain flexed & hands closed
Normal Age: 28 wks gestation- 5 months

Question 18

Effects of Abnormal Startle on Movement

Answer 18

Interferes w/: sitting balance, protective responses in sitting, hand-eye coordination, visual tracking, social interaction, attention

Question 19

Postive Support Reflex

Answer 19

Stim: weight places on balls of feet when upright
Response: stiffening of legs and trunk into ext
Normal Age: 35 wks gestation- 2 months

Question 20

Effects of Abnormal Positive Support on Movement

Answer 20

Interferes w/: standing, walking, balance reactions, weight shift in standing, can lead to ankle contracture into plantarflex

Question 21

Walking/Stepping Reflex

Answer 21

Stim: supported upright position w/ soles of feet on firm surface
Response: reciprocal flex/ext of legs
Normal Age: 38wks gestation- 2 months

Question 22

Effects of Abnormal Walking/Stepping on Movement

Answer 22

Interferes w/: standing, walking, balance reactions, weight shift in standing, development of smooth coordinated reciprocal movements of LE