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 Dr. Charlton's
Retained Neonatal Reflex Integration
for Children & Adults

Helping children and adults overcome retained primitive reflexes to improve learning, coordination, behavior, emotional regulation, and overall nervous system function.

Moro Reflex

What Are Retained Neonatal Reflexes® ?

Primitive reflexes are automatic movement patterns that develop before birth and during infancy. Each reflex is triggered by a specific stimulus, such as turning the head, hearing a loud sound, or experiencing a particular sensation on the body and causing the body to respond in a predictable way.

These reflexes play an essential role in early development. As the brain matures, the higher brain centers, known as the cortical areas, learn to integrate, or "cover up," these reflexes so that more advanced movement, learning, and coordination can develop.

 

The cortical brain does not simply grow with age, it develops through movement, experience, and interaction with the environment. Every movement and enriching experience helps create and solidify new neural connections that strengthen higher brain function.

When primitive reflexes fail to integrate properly, they can continue influencing movement, behavior, coordination, learning, and emotional regulation well beyond infancy.

 

Retained Neonatal Reflex Integration focuses on identifying and addressing these persistent reflex patterns to help the nervous system function more efficiently and effectively.

By improving neurological organization and supporting balanced brain development, this approach may help:

  • Improve emotional regulation

  • Increase attention and focus

  • Improve coordination and balance

  • Improve eye tracking 

  • Improve communication between both sides of the brain

  • Enhance learning and academic performance

  • Reduce sensory sensitivities

  • Support better posture and movement patterns

What Does the Process of Retained Neonatal Reflex Integration Look Like?

Retained Neonatal Reflex Integration always begins with a thorough assessment. The goal is to understand how the nervous system is functioning and identify whether primitive reflexes are still influencing movement, posture, coordination, learning, or behavior.

 

1. Primitive Reflex Assessment

We begin by evaluating common primitive reflexes that should normally have integrated during infancy.

Each reflex is tested through specific movements and body positions designed to reveal whether the reflex remains active.

During the assessment, we look for:

  • Persistent automatic movement patterns

  • Postural compensations

  • Low muscle tone

  • Difficulties with coordination

  • Signs of sensory overload

  • Challenges with balance or body awareness

  • Neurological stress responses

Because primitive reflexes are highly predictable, they often provide valuable insight into how the nervous system is functioning as a whole.

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2. Movement & Coordination Assessment

Primitive reflexes can affect the way children and adults move through space.

We evaluate:

  • Balance

  • Coordination

  • Gait patterns

  • Cross-body movements

  • Bilateral integration

  • Overall motor control and muscle tone

Retained reflexes frequently interfere with smooth communication between the right and left sides of the body, making everyday activities more challenging.​
 

3. Hemispheric Function Assessment

Healthy nervous system function depends on balanced communication between both hemispheres of the brain.

We assess for signs that one hemisphere may be functioning more dominantly than the other.

Imbalances may contribute to:

  • Poor reading comprehension

  • Obsessive or repetitive behaviors

  • Poor eye contact

  • Impulse control

  • Hyperactivity and anxiousness

  • Immature social behavior

  • Poor nonverbal communication skills

  • Poor auditory processing

  • Poor self esteem

  • Task avoidance

  • Poor verbal, spelling, reading, or math skills

  • Learning difficulties

  • Fine motor problems

Understanding hemispheric balance helps guide the most effective intervention strategies.​

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4. Sensory & Behavioral Assessment

Retained reflexes often influence how the brain processes sensory information.

We assess for:

  • Sensitivity to sound

  • Sensitivity to touch

  • Sensitivity to movement

  • Emotional regulation challenges

  • Anxiety responses

  • Attention difficulties

  • Overactive startle responses

Many children with retained reflexes experience heightened stress responses because their nervous system remains in a more reactive state than intended.​
 

5. The Integration Process

Once retained reflexes and neurological patterns are identified, we create a customized plan designed to help the nervous system develop more mature movement and processing patterns.

Treatment may include:

  • Specific cranial corrections

  • Neurological stimulation techniques

  • Movement-based exercises

  • Balance and coordination training

  • Cross-patterning activities

  • Sensory-motor integration strategies

The goal is to encourage the brain to build stronger pathways that allow primitive reflexes to become fully integrated.

 

As integration occurs, many patients experience improvements in:

  • Learning

  • Focus and attention

  • Coordination

  • Emotional regulation

  • Confidence

  • Athletic performance

  • Overall nervous system function

Who Is a Good Candidate for Retained Neonatal Reflex Integration?

Retained reflexes can affect infants, children, and adults.

 

Infants are good candidates if they:

  • Had a prolonged or difficult birth

  • Had a cesarean birth

  • Scream or cry all the time

  • Have or had a tongue tie

  • Have latching or nursing difficulties

  • Have a head rotated more to one side (torticollis)

  • Develop plagiocephaly (misshaped head)

  • Are not meeting their developmental milestones

 

Children are good candidates if they:

  • Struggle with coordination

  • Frequently trip or appear clumsy

  • Have difficulty sitting still

  • Become easily overwhelmed by sensory input

  • Have learning challenges

  • Struggle with reading or writing

  • Show signs of anxiety

  • Have difficulty crossing the midline of the body

  • Display poor posture

  • Walk on their toes

  • Have difficulty focusing

 

Teenagers are good candidates if they:

  • Struggle academically despite effort

  • Experience poor coordination

  • Have difficulty with sports performance

  • Feel overwhelmed by sensory stimulation

  • Experience persistent anxiety

  • Have challenges with attention and concentration

 

Adults are good candidates if they:

  • Experience chronic balance or coordination issues

  • Notice persistent movement asymmetries

  • Struggle with focus and organization

  • Experience sensory sensitivities

  • Have unresolved neurological patterns affecting daily function

  • Are recovering from injuries that may have disrupted nervous system function

How Did Retained Neonatal Reflex Integration Come About?

The understanding of primitive reflexes has been part of developmental neurology for decades.

Researchers and clinicians have long recognized the important role reflexes play in infant development and how retained reflexes can continue influencing function later in life.

As knowledge of neurodevelopment has expanded, specialized methods have been developed to help identify and address retained reflexes through targeted therapies and neurological stimulation. Dr. Charlton incorporates these principles into a comprehensive approach designed to support healthy nervous system development, coordination, learning, and overall function.

 

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Common Primitive Reflexes We Assess​

Every primitive reflex has a specific purpose during early development. These reflexes help infants survive, feed, move, and develop the neurological connections needed for later learning and coordination. When a reflex remains active beyond its normal developmental window, it can continue influencing movement, posture, learning, behavior, and sensory processing.

 

Some of the most common retained reflexes we evaluate include:

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Fear Paralysis Reflex (FPR)

The Fear Paralysis Reflex is considered one of the earliest protective reflexes to develop in utero. It is designed to help a baby respond to overwhelming stress or threat.

When retained, the Fear Paralysis Reflex may contribute to:

  • Excessive anxiety

  • Extreme shyness or withdrawal

  • Difficulty adapting to change

  • Emotional hypersensitivity

  • Freeze responses under stress

  • Difficulty with social situations

Children with an active Fear Paralysis Reflex often seem highly cautious, fearful, or easily overwhelmed by everyday experiences.

 

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Moro Reflex

The Moro Reflex is often called the "startle reflex." It is triggered by sudden movement, loud sounds, bright lights, or unexpected sensory input.

When retained, the Moro Reflex may contribute to:

  • Sensory sensitivities

  • Anxiety

  • Emotional outbursts

  • Poor impulse control

  • Aggressiveness

  • Avoiding affectionate behaviors

  • Frequent fight-or-flight responses

  • Poor social skills

Many children with a retained Moro Reflex remain in a constant state of neurological alertness.


 

Babkin Response & Palmomental Reflex

These reflexes help coordinate hand-to-mouth movements during infancy and support early feeding development.

When retained, they may contribute to:

  • Speech challenges

  • Fine motor difficulties

  • Poor hand coordination

  • Difficulty using a knife and fork

  • Challenges with handwriting

  • Jaw tension

  • Difficulties with oral motor control

  • Children that bite

  • Stuttering

 

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Juvenile Suck Thrust Reflex

The Juvenile Suck Thrust Reflex plays an important role during infancy by supporting feeding and nursing.

When retained, it may contribute to:

  • Tongue thrust swallowing patterns

  • Speech difficulties

  • Excessive drooling

  • Oral fixation behaviors

  • Dental and orthodontic concerns

 

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Rooting Reflex

The Rooting Reflex helps infants locate the breast or bottle for feeding.

When retained, it may contribute to:

  • Oral sensitivities

  • Distractibility during eating

  • Speech challenges

  • Difficulty with oral motor coordination

  • Persistent mouth movements

 

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Palmar Reflex

The Palmar Reflex causes an infant to grasp objects placed in the hand.

When retained, it may contribute to:

  • Poor pencil grip

  • Hand fatigue

  • Handwriting difficulties

  • Fine motor delays

  • Challenges with dexterity

  • Mouth movements when performing fine motor tasks with hands

  • Poor posture when performing fine motor tasks with hands

 

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Plantar Reflex

The Plantar Reflex helps to develop the strength of the feet and lower extremities during early development.

When retained, it may contribute to:

  • Balance challenges

  • Low back pain

  • Shin soreness

  • Chronic ankle sprains

  • Poor running coordination in sports

 

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Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR)

The ATNR is activated when the head turns to one side, causing predictable movement patterns in the arms and legs.

When retained, it may contribute to:

  • Difficulty crossing the midline

  • Poor eye tracking

  • Children who are distracted easily

  • Difficulty with learning to ride a bike

  • Reading difficulties

  • Handwriting challenges, excessive writing pressure

  • Poor coordination

  • Mixed hand dominance

  • Recurrent shoulder injuries

  • Problems judging space and distance

ATNR is one of the most commonly retained reflexes associated with academic struggles.

 

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Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR)

The Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex helps establish balance and postural control.

When retained, it may contribute to:

  • Poor balance

  • Poor auditory processing or listening skills

  • Motion sickness

  • Clumsiness

  • Problems judging space, speed, and distance

 

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Sagittal Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (SLR)

The Sagittal Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex influences posture, muscle tone, and body positioning relative to gravity.

When retained, it may contribute to:

  • Poor posture

  • Slouching

  • Difficulty sitting still

  • Low muscle tone

  • Coordination difficulties

  • Fatigue during physical activities

 

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Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR)

The STNR helps infants transition into crawling and more advanced movement patterns.

When retained, it may contribute to:

  • Poor posture at a desk

  • Difficulty sitting still

  • W-sitting

  • Difficulty with transitioning from near to far vision and back

  • Poor hand-eye coordination

  • Poor organizational and planning skills

  • Poor impulse control

  • Tendency to be far sighted

Children with retained STNR often appear restless and frequently shift positions when seated.

 

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Stepping & Heel Reflexes

These early movement reflexes help establish gait patterns and walking mechanics.

When retained, they may contribute to:

  • Awkward walking patterns

  • Toe walking

  • Foot and ankle problems

  • Heel pain

  • Poor balance

  • Coordination difficulties

  • Poor core stability

  • Shin splints

  • Achilles pain

  • Challenges with athletic performance

  • Bladder problems


 

Suprapubic Reflex

The Suprapubic Reflex is associated with lower body control and pelvic function.

When retained, it may contribute to:

  • Bladder problems, bed wetting

  • Pelvic floor weakness

  • Hypoglycemia

  • Endocrine system imbalances

  • Asymmetrical walking pattern

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Spinal Galant Reflex

The Spinal Galant Reflex is triggered by stimulation along the spine and plays a role during birth and early development.

When retained, it may contribute to:

  • Fidgeting or “ants in their pants”

  • Difficulty remaining seated

  • Poor concentration, short term memory

  • Bedwetting

  • Sensitivity to clothing

Many children with a retained Spinal Galant Reflex are constantly moving and have difficulty sitting comfortably for extended periods.

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Is Retained Neonatal Reflex Integration New?

The concept of primitive reflexes is not new. Medical professionals routinely evaluate primitive reflexes in newborns because they are important indicators of healthy neurological development. What is less commonly evaluated is whether those reflexes have properly integrated after infancy. Modern reflex integration techniques focus on identifying lingering reflex patterns and helping the nervous system develop more mature neurological pathways. While the science of primitive reflexes has been established for many years, awareness of retained reflexes and their impact on learning, movement, behavior, and development has grown significantly in recent years.

 

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How Long Until We See Progress?

Most families begin noticing changes within the first several visits.

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Early Improvements

Many patients experience improvements in:

  • Coordination

  • Balance

  • Attention

  • Emotional regulation

  • Sensory processing

within the first few weeks of care.

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Long-Term Changes

More complex neurological patterns often improve gradually as the brain develops stronger and more efficient pathways. Progress continues to build over time as reflexes integrate and higher brain function becomes more dominant.


Number of Visits

The number of visits varies depending on:

  • Age

  • Severity of retained reflex patterns

  • Developmental history

  • Individual goals

Treatment plans are designed to create meaningful progress as efficiently as possible while supporting long-term neurological development. If many symptoms are present, individuals can expect up to 12 weeks of integration therapy.​

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