OCC 541A OCCUPATIONAL PERFORMANCE IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS (Newborn and Infant Development) WEST COAST UNIVERSITY

OCC 541A OCCUPATIONAL PERFORMANCE IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS (Newborn and Infant Development) WEST COAST UNIVERSITY

Newborn and Infant Development
I. What is a Primitive Reflex?
A. Automatic, instinctual movement that assists in:
1. Development
2. Growth
3. Survival
B. Surface in womb and during infancy
C. Designed to become inactive (aka integrated)
1. Ex: rooting and sucking
D. Differ from other reflexes
II. Why are Primitive Reflexes Important?
A. Reflex movements: first foundations of the nervous system
1. Grow the brain
B. Originate in brainstem
1. More likely to react instead of control impulses
C. Repetitive, automatic reflex movements essential for later development of:
1. Balance
2. Mobility
3. Vision
4. Hearing
5. Speaking
6. Learning & Communication
III. Oral, Hand and Foot Reflexes
A. Such-swallow-breathe pattern
B. Gag reflex
1. Very important for infant feeding
2. 34th week of gestation
C. Rooting Reflex
D. Palmar Grasp reflex
E. Plantar grasp reflex
IV. Rooting Reflex
A. Onset: Prenatal
B. Integration: 3 months
C. Procedure: using a finger, stroke perioral skin at corner of mouth, move laterally
to cheek, upper lip, loser lip LOWER LIP
D. Response: infant turns head toward stimulus
E. Significance: find the food source; rarely suppressed in non-satiated infant;
absence may indicate CNS problem
V. Suck-Swallow-Breathe Reflex
A. Onset: prenatal