Are Immature Neuromotor Skills Significant Factors in Educational Under-achievement and Special Educational Needs? Literature review of the role of Primitive Reflexes as Indicators and Measures of Neuromotor Immaturity

Abstract

An overview of research carried out in the last eighteen years investigating the incidence of immature neuromotor skills in children of pre-school and school age; the impact of immature neuromotor status on educational achievement and the influence of daily movement programmes on neuromotor status. Based on published material and independently commissioned reports, the literature indicates that persistence of primitive reflexes is associated with a range of presenting difficulties which include: educational under-achievement; attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD); developmental language disorder; emotional and behavioural issues; visual perception and poverty related differences in physical literacy.Evaluation of intervention programmes indicated that specific developmental movement programmes can help to reduce signs of neuromotor immaturity improving the physical basis for motor related aspects of classroom learning and poverty related differences in physical literacy skills.