21/08/2018

Early Brain Development

Typical/Atypical Development
Assessment in early years
OCT5ECC

Early Brain Development

https://youtu.be/VNNsN9IJkws?t=7

https://youtu.be/m_5u8-QSh6A?t=7

Typical Development
• Reflexive to controlled
• Cephalo-caudal
• Proximal to distal
• Flexion to extension
• Horizontal to vertical
• Palmar to digital
• Ulnar to radial
• Gross to refined
• Pronation to supination
• Medial to lateral (ulnar-radial)

1
 21/08/2018

Primitive Reflexes and Postural

Reflexes
• In newborns primitive reflexes are a way to interact and
survive in their environment (rooting, sucking, grasp)
• Primitive reflexes are slowly integrated when voluntary
control emerges
• Postural reflexes are primarily in response to aligning the
head position to the body (change of head position leads
to change in body position.
• Righting Reflexes - up to 6 months of age
• Equilibrium and Protective reactions - from 6 months
through life

Moro
Reflex
Reflexes and Reactions
Grasp
Reflex

STNR ATNR
Symmetrica Asymmetric
l Tonic al Tonic
Neck neck Reflex
Reflex

Prone Rooting
Pull to sit
suspension reflex
or Traction
or Landau
Reaction
reaction

WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study Group. WHO Motor Development

Study: Windows of achievement for six gross motor development milestones.
Acta Paediatrica Supplement 2006;450:86-95.

2
 21/08/2018

Atypical Development

•Alertness
•Poor absent reflexes – poor
suck/swallow
•Poor response to auditory/ visual
•Hypotonia/hypertonia
•Extreme irritability
•Jerky movements or writhing
movements persisting
•Delayed milestones
•Atypical presentation

Typical and Atypical development

Moro Reflex Typical

3
 21/08/2018

Moro Reflex Atypical

Head Lag Normal

Head Lag -Atypical

4
 21/08/2018

Suck Reflex Normal

13

Suck Reflex Atypical

14

Stepping Normal

15

5
 21/08/2018

Stepping - Atypical

16

Development of prehension

12 Months Pincer Grasp

18

6
 21/08/2018

12 Months Beads in cup

19

30 months – Block Tower

20

7
 21/08/2018

All references are in the reading

list and all links can be accessed
from this pdf copy.