Persistent Childhood Primitive Reflex Reduction Effects on Cognitive, Sensorimotor, and Academic Performance in ADHD

Abstract

A study was performed on 2,175 individuals between the ages of 3.2 and 22.04 years diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and drawn from 89 separate locations across the United States in satellite clinics with common practices and common staff training and equipment. The objective was to determine the efficacy of a hemispheric-based training program to reduce extant retained primitive reflexes (RPRs) and examine the relationship to motor function by metronome-based motor, DL, and cognitive tasks measured by subtests of the Wechsler Wide Range Achievement Test. After a 12-week program, RPR's were significantly reduced, as well as performance on all motor and cognitive measures significantly increased. Listening comprehension demonstrated significant increases between pre- and post-testing of 7% ( W = 1213000; df = 2094; p < 0.0001) and mathematical problem solving revealed a significant increase of 5% ( W = 1331500; df = 2091; p < 0.0001) associated with a significant reduction in primitive reflexes. The study concluded that the incorporation of relatively simple hemispheric-based programming within the educational system worldwide could relatively inexpensively increase academic, cognitive, and motor performance.

Retained Primitive Reflexes and Potential for Intervention in Autistic Spectrum Disorders

“…We can conclude based on our current understanding that if there is any delay in maturation of the pyramidal tracts, the brainstem, or the frontal lobe, it is reasonable to assume that there might be a delay in the disappearance of the Babinski sign and other primitive reflexes. Many neurologists and pediatricians assume that the Babinski sign and other primitive reflexes that are present at birth and sustained for the first year of life will automatically disappear after that initial period unless brain damage is present ( 25 , 27 , 40 , 94 , 95 , 233 , 291 ).…”

“…Retained primitive reflexes have been noted in several neurobehavioral disorders, including ADHD and ASD and are understood to be associated with or absent or delayed developmental milestones in these ( 25 , 27 , 28 , 44 , 143 – 148 ). RPRs have been reportedly associated with the presence of clumsiness ( 25 , 27 , 43 , 149 , 150 ) incoordination ( 149 ), awkward posture ( 151 ), gait ( 152 – 154 ), and other motor disturbances ( 25 , 155 , 156 ). Most neurobehavioral disorders seem to be associated with motor incoordination and cognitive dysfunction ( 25 , 27 , 43 , 44 , 157 , 158 ).…”

“…Numerous authors have reported on an association between clumsiness and incoordination, particularly in gait and posture, and ASD, ADHD, and other neurobehavioral disorders of childhood ( 163 , 169 , 170 ). The kind of gait and motor dysfunction has been mainly thought to possess either basal ganglia or cerebellar origins ( 25 , 27 , 40 , 43 , 171 ). Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), or more simply put, motor incoordination or “clumsiness,” is also usually of the same type, primarily involving the muscles that control gait and posture or gross motor activity ( 172 , 173 ).…”

“…It has also been documented that in children, adolescents, and adults with RPRs, a neurobehavioral disorder or “learning disability” coexists ( 4 , 26 , 27 ). Individuals with ADHD, ( 25 ) autism, ( 28 ) Tourette's, ( 29 ) dyslexia ( 30 ), or other neurobehavioral disorders, frequently demonstrate RPRs that are thought to be related to maturational delay in the nervous system ( 3 , 31 – 34 ).…”

“…Their persistence and presence in children and adolescents may indicate diffuse cortical maturational delay and correlate with cognitive and executive developmental absence or delay. If developmental milestones are not appropriately achieved, we hypothesize that synchronicity, optimization, the efficiency of behavioral-environmental interaction, coordination of movement, and synchronization of the overlapping brain will all be affected ( 25 , 27 , 43 , 44 , 86 ).…”