Reflex and Sensory Processing

primitive reflexes

• Automatc survival responses necessary for

health and safety of the infant

• Predictable motor responses

• Stmulated by sensory factors (vestbular, propriocepton, tactle)

• Most integrate by within the frst 12 months of life

• Persistence of refexes afer the first year = possible future occupatonal performance issues

importance of relexes

• supposed tointegrate and cahnge into more mature/voluntary movement 

• if retained, movements will remain past typical age range and prevent other motor skills 

• limitations of development and academic skills 

• progress in motor development is closely related to reflexes

• if retained, can reduce brain’s ability to process sensory info appropriately

neuroplasticity

te ability of the nervous system to respond to intrinsic and extrinsic stmuli by reorganizing its structure, functons and connectons

occupational demands

Children change and grow through adaptve neurophysiological processing of internal and external sensory stmuli in response to _

• The child’s exeperiences engaging in desired occupatons produce new neurologic connectons and structural changes allowing for contnued development

sensory processing

Sensory input must be actively organized and used by the child to act on and respond to the eniironment

• Too much or too litle can result in issues, disabilites, or delay

• Necessary for optimal brain function and for learning/development

active movement

allowing for a variety of sensory experiences- leads to knowledge, ownership, and body and motor learning

sensory integration

A child actvely selects the most useful sensaton at the tme and organizes them in a way that helps accomplish goals

• Development = partcipation and engagement in occupations

adaptive response

A challenge presented in the environment is successfully met

• Drive development forward

• Innate drive

• Development of sensory integration 

sensory processin in infancy

strongest sensory systems in infancy

senses of smell and touch

• facilitates bonding

decreases stress in newborns

Increased tactle stmuli, such as massage

• Swaddling, holding

impacts arousal levels in newborns 

Positon and movement- vestibular and proprioceptive senses

• Infants that are more upright will be more alert

• Rocking helps calm

vision sensory processing in infants

Infants react to color and contrast the most, can only see about 8 inches in front of them

hearing sensory processing in infants

Heartbeat and “Swish” sound can be calming

• Sounds from in-utero

• Can distnguish mom’s voice

sensory processing difficulties

• Low or High Threshold

• Active or Passive regulation

strategies/behavioral responses

1. Low Registraton

2. Sensory Seeking

3. Sensory Sensitvity

4. Sensory Avoiding

Low Registraton

passive, high threshold

Sensory Seeking

active, high threshold 

Sensory Sensitvity

passive, low threshold 

Sensory Avoiding

active, low threshold