Occupational Therapy on Tuesdays: Life With My Kids

As I travel through life with my two yahoos, I am learning more and more about the human brain and what it can do, and unfortunately what it can't do.  We have 30 some odd innate reflexes that we are born with and if they are not resolved age appropriately, then it can cause problems in every facet of our lives.

The focus today is on the Moro Reflex, which is the body's response to fight or flight reflex in an infant.  This reflex develops between nine and twelve weeks of gestation and is normally integrated so that it disappears by the age of 4-5 months.  So....we know infants can't fight or move out of the way when their environment rapidly changes, so they tend to stiffen, return to the fetal position, and then cry as a call of help.  When the baby is startled, the body sends out hormones, cortisol, and adrenaline, breathing changes and becomes for rapid, but more shallow, and there is an increase in blood pressure and the heart rate.  So what happens if the Moro Reflex is not integrated?

Unresolved Moro Reflex may cause:

• Sleep disturbances, difficulty settling down to sleep
• Easily triggered, reacts in anger or emotional outburst
• Shyness
• Poor balance and coordination
• Poor stamina
• Motion sickness
• Poor digestion, tendency towards hypoglycemia
• Weak immune system, asthma, allergies and infections
• Hypersensitivity to light, movement, sound, touch & smell
• Vision/reading/writing difficulties
• Difficulty adapting to change
• Cycles of hyperactivity and extreme fatigue
• Easily distracted, difficulty filtering out extraneous stimuli
• Difficulty catching a ball
• Difficulty with visual perception
• Tires easily or is irritable under fluorescent lighting

How does it affect students in the classroom if it is not resolved?

These students will often show characteristics of ADHD because they are constantly being stimulated by the chemicals in the brain.  These are the students that, when bored, will find things to occupy their time by fumbling around in their desks.  These students are often immature, but creative and imaginative.  These students are constantly startled by the unexpected, hate loud sounds, and flashing lights.  They usually fatigue easily, causing them to fall behind in their work, may have messy work because they are always feeling rushed, and may have trouble making friends because they are disorganized, have trouble controlling their bodies, and may actually be more withdrawn than the typical student with ADHD (the consensus is that most with ADHD are ready to find the fun and join the party!). 

How does it affect adults if it is not resolved?

Adults that have retained the Moro Affect will often be stricken with anxiety, ego problems, struggle when taking criticism because it is taken very personally, have control issues, stay tired, and tense muscles which may result in back aches or migraines.

How can the Moro Reflex be resolved?

My daughter struggles with the Moro Reflex.  She is 11 years old, but many of her reflexes have not been integrated, so our Occupational Therapist recommended this exercise.  She is now working on the Starfish exercise.   I have to tell you, I have tried it (I suspect that my Moro Reflex is alive and well, too) and it is a very calming exercise.  This is only one of the exercises that can be used.  Contact an occupational therapist near you if you suspect that you have a child with unresolved reflexes.


And, on a lighter note I am trying to find some answers....

I recently bought some books to use with the Storia App....however, do not want to give out my Scholastic password to my students.  So, I have emailed Scholastic and asked for advice.  I'll let you know as soon as I find out!