PERSISTENCE OF PRIMITIVE REFLEXES AND MOTOR COMPETENCE IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY
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| Year of publication | 2025 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | Persistence of primitive (primary) reflexes in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is increasingly discussed as a factor influencing motor competence, postural control, and the execution of everyday and school-related activities. The aim of this exploratory study was to examine the relationship between motor competence, assessed using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children – Second Edition (MABC-2), and the persistence of selected primitive reflexes in children with ASD. The sample consisted of 62 children with ASD aged 6–16 years. Participants were assessed using a standardized administration of the MABC-2 with ASD-specific modifications (Možná & Válková, 2022) and evaluation of primitive reflexes according to Volemanová’s protocol, including postural tasks, goal-directed upper limb movements, and assessment of Moro, tonic labyrinthine reflex (TLR), asymmetric tonic neck reflex (ATNR), symmetric tonic neck reflex (STNR), spinal Galant reflex, and Landau reflex. Kinematic characteristics of selected tasks and qualitative field observations were also recorded. Results indicated that greater persistence and severity of primitive reflexes were associated with significant motor difficulties on the MABC-2, particularly among participants scoring below the 5th percentile, corresponding to the motor criterion for developmental coordination disorder (DCD). The most pronounced deficits were observed in aiming and catching and in balance and postural stability. The findings suggest that motor difficulties in children with ASD are closely related to a profile of neuromotor immaturity rather than reduced motor performance alone. Persistence of primitive reflexes manifests in qualitative disturbances of coordination and postural control that may reflect altered brainstem integration. These results support the role of persistent primitive reflexes in the etiology of motor difficulties in ASD and highlight the relevance of neuro-stimulatory approaches in educational and clinical intervention. |
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