Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR)

Triggers and Responses

When the baby’s head moves forward, his arms bend and legs straighten.
When the baby’s head moves backward, the arms straighten and legs bend.

The STNR helps the baby learn to use the two halves of the body, top and bottom, independent of each other.

It helps to integrate the TLR (tonic labyrinthine reflex).

Helps the baby attain hands and knees position.

Appears between 6 to 9 months, after the ATNR (asymmetrical tonic neck reflex) is integrated at 9 to 11 months.

Even though the STNR helps the baby attain the hands and knees position, if it is retained, the baby is usually unable to crawl. He might bear walk (hands and feet instead of hands and knees), scoot while sitting, or go directly to walking. If the baby is able to crawl, it is often an atypical crawl, with elbows locked or feet may be up off the floor. The crawling will be unsynchronized.

It is theorized that the STNR assists in vision training, changing the focus from near to far. If the STNR integrates, vision is trained further, allowing the baby’s eyes to cross midline, and training eye-hand coordination. It has been observed that babies who have never crawled (possible retained STNR) often have reading difficulties.

When sitting at a table or desk, when the child with a retained STNR looks down, his arms bend. This child will appear to be in a slouched position or stooped over, sometimes nearly lying on their desk.

A retained STNR is significantly correlated with ADHD and ADD.

Eye/hand coordination is affected. Vertical eye tracking is also affected, causing the child with an STNR to have difficulty with ball sports.

Symptoms of a Retained Symmetric Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR)

Poor eye-hand coordination
Messy eater
Difficulty with sports
Clumsy
Difficulty changing eye focus from near to far, i.e. from blackboard to desk
Slow to copy from a book or blackboard
Difficulty learning to swim above water—if the child is able to learn, swimming will be unsynchronized
ADHD or ADD
Poor posture while sitting at a table or desk
Tendency to anchor feet behind chair legs when sitting
Ape-like walk
While sitting on the floor, tendency to sit in “W” position
Either difficulty in holding head upright or head tilts up excessively
Difficulty recognizing social cues
Challenges with memorization
Poor balance
Poor space and time awareness
Difficulty aligning numbers for math calculations
Poor learning ability

STNR

Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR)

Symptoms of a Retained Symmetric Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR)

Poor eye-hand coordination

Difficulty changing eye focus from near to far, i.e. from blackboard to desk

Slow to copy from a book or blackboard

Difficulty learning to swim above water—if the child is able to learn, swimming will be unsynchronized

ADHD or ADD

Poor posture while sitting at a table or desk

Tendency to anchor feet behind chair legs when sitting

Ape-like walk

While sitting on the floor, tendency to sit in “W” position

Either difficulty in holding head upright or head tilts up excessively

Difficulty recognizing social cues

Challenges with memorization

Poor balance

Poor space and time awareness

Difficulty aligning numbers for math calculations

Poor learning ability

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Overall my son's ability to focus has improved--coordination and balance. I've also seen a huge improvement in his ability to cross midline.--Melissa, parent of a participant.