Developmental Practitioners' Association

Research and Case Studies

• Recent Headline Research in Medical Journals

  • British Medical Journal
    ‘The interventions (reflex work plus TENS) were associated with a reduction in all three impairments, significant changes to qEEG network connectivity and significantly improved performance in standardised cognitive tests.’

  • Melillo RJ et al (2023) Identification and reduction of retained primitive reflexes by sensory stimulation in ASD: effects in qEEG networks  and cognitive functions. British Medical Journal Case Report 16:e2552854 (Dec 2023)
  • Lancet
    ‘This study provides further evidence of a link between reading difficulties and control of movement in children. In particular, our study highlights how the educational functioning of children may be linked to interference from an early neurodevelopmental system (the primary-reflex system). A new approach to the treatment of children with reading difficulties is proposed involving assessment of underlying neurological functioning, and appropriate remediation.’

  • McPhillips, M., Hepper, P., & Mulhern, G. (2000). Effects of replicating primary-reflex movements on specific reading difficulties in children: A randomised, double-blind, controlled trial. The Lancet (British Edition), 355(9203), 537–541.
  • Journal of Occupational Therapy
    ‘Analysis found statistically significant and moderately strong correlations between ATNR retention and poorer scholastic performance’
  • Feldhacker DR et al (2021) The correlation between retained primitive reflexes and scholastic performance among early elementary students. Journal of Occupational Therapy , Schools and Early Intervention 15(3):288-301.
  • Journal of Neurology and Experimental Neuroscience
    ‘Decreased Retained Primitive Reflexes Improved Reading Scores.’
  • Grigg TM et al (2023) Primitive Reflex Integration & Reading Achievement in the classroom. Journal of Neurology and Experimental Neuroscience 9 (1):18-26 (Feb 2023)
  • Journal of Brain Sciences
    ‘Delay in gross and fine motor skills in a child’s first year, was significantly associated with cognitive development and behavioural  adjustment by the age of five.’
  • Zhou Y et al (2024) Association between Gross and Fine Motor Skills, Physical Activity, Executive Function and Academic Achievement: Longitudinal Findings from the UK Millenium Cohort Study. Journal of Brain Sciences 14(2) 121 (2024)
  • Journal of Neurology and Experimental Neuroscience
    ‘An RMT reflex integration programme is associated with a reduction in the level of retained primitive reflexes (23%), a reduction in the level of challenging behaviour (20%), an increase in social participation (12%) and an increase in wellbeing (22%) in fostered children after 3.2 months.
    O’Donnell SE (2024) Reflex Integration and Fostered Children with Emotional Regulation Difficulties Who Have Experienced Neglect. Journal of Neurology and Experimental Neuroscience 10(1) 24-32 (Aug 24)
  • Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research
    ‘Children with DLD demonstrated higher levels of persistent primitive reflexes compared to TD children.’
    Maria Matuszkiewicz et al (2020) Developmental Language Disorder and Uninhibited Primitive Reflexes in Young Children. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research 64 (3) March 2021 935-948

• Published Peer Reviewed Research based on ‘Assessing Neuromotor Readiness for Learning’

  • *Goddard Blythe SA., 2005. Releasing educational potential through movement,  A summary of individual studies carried out using the INPP Test Battery and Developmental Exercise Programme for use in Schools with Children with Special Needs.
    Child Care in Practice.11/4:415.432. 2005
  • *Goddard Blythe SA, 2011. Neuromotor maturity as an indicator of developmental readiness for education. Report on the use of a Neuro-Motor Test Battery and Developmental Movement Programme in schools in Northumberland and Berkshire. 2011. IN: Movement, Vision, Hearing – The Basis of Learning. Ewa Maria Kulesza (Ed). Wydawninctwo Akademii Pedagogiki Specjalnej im> Marii Grzegorzewskiej. Warszawa.
  • *Zielińska M & Goddard Blythe SA. 2018. School functioning of students with neuromotor immaturity. International Journal of Pedagogy Innovation and New Technologies journal homepage: Vol. 7, No. 2, 2020, pp. 40-46 International Journal of Pedagogy Innovation and New Technologies. journal homepage: http://www.ijpint.com ISSN: 2392-0092,
  • ​*Goddard Blythe SA & Lunina N., 2020.  Assessing neuromotor readiness for learning Modern methods of prevention and correction of developmental disorders for children: Tradition and innovation: Sat. materials of the II International Interdisciplinary Scientific Conference, October 22-23, 2020. eds. O. N. Usanova. – M .: Kogito-Center – Moscow Institute of Psychoanalysis, 2020 .–  pp. 11-23. ISBN 978-5-89353-607-2
  • *Goddard Blythe SA, Duncombe R, Preedy P & Gorely T., 2021. Neuromotor readiness for school: the primitive reflex status of young children at the start and end of their first year at school in the United Kingdom. 2021. Education 3-13/ International Journal of Primary, Elementary and Early Years Education. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03004279.2021.1895276
  • *Kalemba A,  Lorent M,  Goddard Blythe SA  and Gieysztor, E., 2023. The Correlation between Residual Primitive Reflexes and Clock Reading Difficulties in School-Aged Children—A Pilot Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.  2023, 20, 2322. https://doi.org/10.3390/ ijerph2003232
  • *Goddard Blythe SA., 2023. Are Immature Neuromotor Skills Significant Factors in Educational Under-achievement and Special Educational Needs? Literature review of the role of Primitive Reflexes as Indicators and Measures of Neuromotor Immaturity. Goddard Blythe, Sally. Institute for Neuro-Physiological Psychology, Wielka Brytania. Szkoła Specjalna.  2023-04-30.https://e-szkolaspecjalna.pl/resources/html/article/details?id=611494

• Other Research and References

  • Singh A, Uijtdewilligen L, Twisk JWR, van Mechelin W, Chinapaw JMJ, 2012. Physical activity and performance at school: A systematic review of the literature including a methodological quality assessment. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. 166/1:49-55.
  • Konicarova J & BobP., 2013, Asymmetric tonic neck reflex and symptoms of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder in children. May 2013. The International journal of neuroscience 123/11.  DOI: 10.3109/00207454.2013.801471
  • Gieysztor EZ, Choińska AM & Paprocka-Borowicz M., 2016.  Persistence of primitive reflexes and associated motor problems in healthy pre-school children.  Archives of Medical Science :167-173.
  • Gieysztor EZ, Sadowska L &  Choińska AM, 2017.   The degree of primitive reflexes integration as a diagnostic tool to assess the neurological maturity of healthy pre-school and early school age children.   Piel ZDR Publ. 2017:26/1:5-11. Nursing and Public Health
  • Ivanović LB et al. 2018.  Does neuromotor immaturity represent a risk for acquiring basic academic skills in school-age children?  Vojnoisanitetski Pregled.   Military Medical and Pharmaceutical Review.  January 2018.
  • ​Gieysztor EZ, Pecuch A, Kowal M, Borowicz W  & Paprocka-Borowicz M., 2020.  Pelvic symmetry is influenced by Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex during Children’s Gait.  Int. J. of Environ. Res. Public Health. 2020:17/4759.
  • ​Pecuch A, Gieysztor EZ, , Wolańska E, Telenga M & Paprocka-Borowicz M., 2021.  Primitive reflex activity in relation to motor skills in healthy pre-school children. Brain Sci. 2021:11/967.
  • Domingo_Sanz VA, 2023.Inhibition of Primitive Reflexes and Its Relationship with
    Visual Projection in Children and Adolescents.  Optometry & Visual Performance. ISSN 2325-3487
  • ​Infante-Can ̃ete, L.   Aguilar-Guerrerob, B.  Wallace-Ruiza, A. Effect of a psychoeducational intervention on motor and perceptual-visual development through the inhibition of primitive reflexes in schoolchildren aged 4 to 7 years old.  Revista  Psicodidáctica 28: 182-189.
  • Bein-Wierzbinski, W. (2001, March). Persistent primitive reflexes in elementary school children. Effect on oculo-motor and visual perception [Conference session]. The 13th European Conference of Neuro-Developmental Delay in Children with Specific Learning Difficulties, Chester, UK.
  • Bob, P., Konicarova, J., & Raboch, J. (2021). Disinhibition of primitive reflexes in attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder: Insight into specific mechanisms in girls and boys. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.430685
  • Callcott, D. (2012). Retained primary reflexes in preprimary-aged Indigenous children: The effect on movement ability and school readiness. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 37(2), 132–140. https://doi.org/10.1177/183693911203700218
  • Feldhacker, D., Cosgrove, R., Feiten, B., Schmidt, K., & Stewart, M. (2021). Relationship between retained primitive reflexes and scholastic performance. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 75(S2).
  • Gonzalez, S. R.; Ciuffreda, K.; Hernandez, L. C.; Escalante, J. B. (2008). The correlation between primitive reflexes and saccadic eye movements in 5th grade children with teacher-reported reading problems. Optometry and Vision Development, 39(3),140-145.
  • Grzywniak, C. (2017). Integration exercise programme for children with learning difficulties who have preserved vestigial primitive reflexes. Acta Neuropsychologica, 15(3). https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0010.5491
  • Hickey, J., & Feldhacker, D. R. (2022). Primitive reflex retention and attention among preschool children. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention, 15(1), 1-13.
  • Hobo, K., Kawase, J., Tamura, F., Groher, M., Kikutani, T., & Sunakawa, H. (2014). Effects of the reappearance of primitivereflexes on eating function and prognosis. Geriatrics & Gerontology International, 14(1), 190-197.
  • Holmes, K., Handloser, P., Hanley, D. (2016), Retained primitive reflexes in ADHD and ASD among children in an inpatient psychiatric setting [Unpublished manuscript]. University of Arkansas for Medical Science, Psychiatric Research Institute.
  • Konicarova, J., & Bob, P. (2012). Retained primitive reflexes and ADHD in children. Activitas Nervosa Superior, 54(3), 135-138.
  • Konicarova, J., Bob, P., & Raboch, J. (2013). Persisting primitive reflexes in medication-naive girls with attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 9, 1457–1461.
  • McPhillips, M., & Jordan-Black, J. (2007). Primary reflex persistence in children with reading difficulties (dyslexia): A crosssectional study. Neuropsychologia, 45(4), 748-754.
  • McPhillips, M., & Sheehy, N. (2004). Prevalence of persistent primary reflexes and motor problems in children with reading difficulties. Dyslexia, 10(4), 316-338. https://doi.org/10.1002/dys.282
  • McWhirter, K., Steel, A., & Adams, J. (2022). The association between learning disorders, motor function, and primitive reflexes in pre-school children: A systematic review. Journal of Child Health Care. https://doi.org/10.1177/13674935221114187
  • Melillo, R., Leisman, G., Mualem, R., Ornai, A., & Carmeli, E. (2020). Persistent childhood primitive reflex reduction effects on cognitive, sensorimotor, and academic performance in ADHD. Frontiers in Public Health, 8(684).
  • Oliver, J. L. (2020). Primitive Reflex Persistence in U.S. Middle School Students and Academic Reading and Mathematics[Doctoral dissertation]. Grand Canyon University, Phoenix.https://www.proquest.com/openview/9f61763613d800f8681c608de6bd3c98/1
  • Richards, L., Avery, R., Gray, S., & Price, R. (2022). Relationship of retained primitive reflexes and handwriting difficulty in elementary-age children. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 76(Supplement_1), 7610505010p1.
  • Salavati, S., Bos, A. F., Doyle, L. W., Anderson, P. J., & Spittle, A. J. (2021). Very preterm early motor repertoire and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 8 years. Pediatrics, 148(3).
  • Shihada, M. B., Vinci, M. K., Wrenhaven, S. L., & Goodman, G. D. (2018). Statistical relationships between visual skill deficits and retained primitive reflexes in children. Optometry and Visual Performance, 6(3), 106-111.
  • Bronagh T., Donncha H., McPhillips M. (2019) Motor problems in children with severe emotional and behavioural difficulties.  British Journal of Educational Psychology, 90(3), 719–735. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjep.12327
  • Taylor, M., Chapman, E., & Houghton, S. (2004). Primitive reflexes and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Developmental origins of classroom dysfunction. International Journal of Special Education, 19(1), 23-37.
  • Walhberg, T., & Ireland, D. (2005). Can replicating primary reflex movements improve reading ability? Optometry & VisionDevelopment, 36(2).