Children with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder: Persistence of Primitive Reflexes and Related Motor Activity Issues

Abstract

To identify which primitive reflex is higher and its associated problem with motor performance in children with ADHD.14 children with ADHD (4–6 years old) from pediatric clinic of Surat were checked for the presence of the asymmetric tonic neck reflex, symmetric tonic neck reflex, tonic labyrinthine reflex, Palmer, Galant, and Moro reflex test method given by sally Goddard. Motor skills were checked with the motor proficiency test (MOT 4–6 test) in those18 tasks. A child with ADHD has reflex activity in the following areas: ATNR right (42.9%), Galan right (21.4%), STNR extension (28.6%), and Moro (35.7%). Motor skills are inversely related to retained permeative reflex. ADHD Children with increased reflex activity facing difficulty on the MOT test. This study shows that ADHD symptoms are closely linked with persistence of primitive reflexes. The association between persisting primitive reflexes and motor skills suggests that ADHD symptoms may represent a compensation for unfinished developmental phases related to declining reflexes.