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Primitive reflex profile: a quantitation of primitive reflexes in infancy
Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology
|June 1, 1984
Summary
This study standardized primitive reflex assessments in 381 infants, providing data to aid in predicting motor disabilities. These findings offer a new tool to complement standard infant neurological exams.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric neurology
- Developmental pediatrics
- Infant motor development
Background:
- Primitive reflexes are key indicators of infant neurological development.
- Standardized assessment methods are needed for reliable interpretation.
- Longitudinal data on primitive reflexes are crucial for understanding developmental trajectories.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively standardize the assessment of nine primitive reflexes in normal infants.
- To establish normative data for primitive reflexes from birth to two years.
- To explore the utility of primitive reflexes in predicting early motor disabilities.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal evaluation of 381 normal infants.
- Quantitative standardization of nine primitive reflex examinations.
- Confirmation of infant normality using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development at one year.
Main Results:
- Standardized quantitative data were collected for nine primitive reflexes.
- Normative data were established for a cohort of 381 infants.
- The assessment technique was shown to complement traditional neurological examinations.
Conclusions:
- The standardized primitive reflex examination provides valuable normative data.
- This technique may serve as an adjunct for predicting motor disability in infancy.
- Further research can explore the predictive power of these reflexes in diverse populations.
