Here's something that should be talked about more: a significant number of children and adults with ADHD symptoms also have retained primitive reflexes. Sometimes the reflexes are making genuine ADHD worse. Sometimes the reflexes are the whole problem, and the ADHD label is a misfit.
I'm not anti-diagnosis. Diagnosis matters when it leads to the right support. But I've spent 13 years working with children and adults whose difficulties were partly or entirely explained by retained reflexes that nobody had ever checked for. That's a problem.
The overlap between retained reflexes and ADHD
The core symptoms of ADHD are inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Look at the specific primitive reflexes most commonly retained, and you'll see why the overlap is so striking.
The STNR (Symmetric Tonic Neck Reflex)
This reflex links head position to arm and leg movement. When a child looks down, their arms want to bend and their legs want to straighten. When they look up, the opposite happens. It should integrate around 9 to 11 months.
When it doesn't, sitting at a desk becomes a physical battle. The child can't maintain posture. They slump, fidget, lean on their arms, wrap their legs around the chair. Copying from a whiteboard is agony because every time they look up, their body shifts. They look inattentive and hyperactive. But they're actually fighting their own nervous system.
The Spinal Galant reflex
Stroke a baby's lower back on one side and the hip swings to that side. It's involved in the birth process. When it's retained, anything that touches or presses against the lower back triggers involuntary hip movement and discomfort.
Sitting with their back against a chair? Uncomfortable. Tucking in a shirt? Irritating. The child wriggles, shifts, can't sit still. They look hyperactive. They also commonly have bedwetting issues, because the reflex affects bladder control. This reflex is rarely checked and frequently missed.
The ATNR (Asymmetric Tonic Neck Reflex)
Turn the head to one side and the arm on that side extends while the other arm bends. Useful for a newborn. Disastrous for a child trying to write. Every time they look at their hand while writing, the reflex tries to extend that arm. Handwriting becomes slow, messy, and exhausting. The child avoids writing tasks, looks disengaged, gets labelled as not trying.
What I do differently
I assess for retained reflexes directly. I don't diagnose ADHD, and you don't need an ADHD diagnosis to see me. What I do is test every major primitive reflex using specific clinical assessments, and then build a programme to integrate any that are retained.
The assessment takes about 90 minutes. It's hands-on, non-invasive, and involves observing how the body responds to specific positions and movements. Children usually find it straightforward. Adults often find it revelatory.
If I find retained reflexes, I create a movement-based programme. Daily exercises at home, about 10 to 15 minutes. I reassess every 6 to 8 weeks. The whole programme typically runs for 6 to 12 months.
This isn't about replacing ADHD treatment
I want to be clear. If you or your child has ADHD, that's a real condition and I respect that. What I'm saying is that retained reflexes can amplify ADHD symptoms, or in some cases, produce symptoms that look identical to ADHD. Either way, integrating those reflexes reduces the load on the nervous system.
I've worked with children who came off ADHD medication after reflex integration because the symptoms had reduced enough that it wasn't needed. I've also worked with children who stayed on medication but found that everything worked better once the reflexes were addressed. Both outcomes are good outcomes.
No diagnosis required
This is important. The NHS waiting list for an ADHD assessment can be years long. You don't need to wait. You don't need a diagnosis of ADHD or anything else to access primitive reflex integration therapy. I assess for retained reflexes independently, and I can start working with you or your child straight away.
If you're an adult who suspects ADHD and wants to explore whether retained reflexes might be part of the picture, you're welcome too.
Get in touch
I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation. We'll talk through what's going on and I'll be straight with you about whether I think reflex integration could help. Book a consultation or call me on 07469 870 295.
