Every child is born with a set of primitive reflexes. They are required to assist in the baby’s sensory and perceptual development. They are essential for the baby’s survival whilst also providing initial training for many subsequent complex skills. This area of development should be completed in the first twelve months of life as the postural reflexes emerge.

Postural reflexes are more mature patterns of response that support ongoing learning and performance in later years.

​

If the primitive reflexes do not reach their full potential, your child may skip some essential developmental milestones. These “missing” or not completed steps can have significant impacts on hand-eye coordination, sensory, motor and perceptual development, visual pursuits and success, self-regulation, and daily capacity building. This may have significant impacts on learning and daily capacity building. This is known as a neurodevelopmental delay.  

​

Some behaviours you may notice about your child that could indicate a developmental delay:

​

• Difficulty sitting still

• A diagnosis of ADD, ADHD, sensory processing disorder, or autism spectrum disorder

• Panic attacks and social/general anxiety

• Low self-esteem

• Emotional outbursts

• A constant need to chew on various objects or clothing, or be a fussy eater

• Sensory Processing issues

• Vision, hearing, or speech challenges  

• Hand/eye coordination difficulties

• Limited fine motor skills

• Difficulty or delay in learning to read and write, including letter formation and reversals of numbers and letters

• Poor spelling ability, comprehension difficulties, and working memory issues

• Difficulty with getting thoughts onto paper, but verbally competent

• Poor organisational skills, including dressing

• Overly sensitive to the sensation of wearing particular clothing and different fabrics 

• Bedwetter over 5yrs of age

• Constant fatigue or overly hyperactive

• Poor sleeping patterns

​

​

Please fill out the Children's Screening Questionnaire below if you would like to inquire with Penny.