Startle Reflex

[Vettey]

Hi

My niece was born 24th Nov 06 and had to be resuscitated at birth and was put on respirator (see prev thread on Help for week old baby with birth brain injury).

She had a pediatric assessment and they found she had no startle reflex. What are the implications for this? If you have experience with this or a reference i could read it would really help.

Has any body had a baby that did not develop this til later?

Thanks for any info.

Take care,

Vettey

[swiftuk]

(((Vettey)))) Obviously I have no experience, but all I can find is that this is suggestive of CNS issues.

[lacyndarella]

I looked up the moro reflex and all I can find is that an absence of an infantile reflex can indicate brain damage, as can the re-emergence of an infantile reflex in adults or older children. Sorry, it's not very specific.

[mama z]

I believe the absence of the startle reflex is more of a symptom or indication of a brain injury. Babies generally lose the reflex as they grow older so the lack of the reflex itself later on wouldn't be so concerning. It's just the lack of one now is concerning becaue it represents some neurological issues.

I can't remember if Andrew had the startle reflex as a baby or not. It doesn't seem so significant now as it may have then. He did have an exagerated reflex as he got older and those "startles" have now turned into myoclonic and tonic seizures. I'd rather have him with no startles.

Take care. Please holler if you need anything.

Laura