Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Department of Psychology and Education of Exceptional Children, Faculty of Psychology and Education, University Allameh Tabatabai,Tehran, Iran.
2 Department of Psychology of Exceptional Children, Faculty of Psychology and Education, University of Allameh Tabatabai , Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Background and Purpose: Primitive reflexes play a crucial role in the early development of the child’s brain. However, many of these reflexes must gradually be inhibited during normal childhood development. In individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), several of these reflexes persist beyond the typical developmental period, leading to various functional difficulties. The present systematic review aimed to investigate reflex-based interventions that may reduce the symptoms of ASD and ADHD.
Method: This systematic review was designed, conducted, and reported in accordance with the PRISMA checklist. A systematic review of studies examining reflex-based interventions for reducing symptoms of ASD and ADHD was conducted. Relevant English and Persian articles were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ResearchGate, MagIran, NoorMags, and the Scientific Information Database (SID). The keywords used included: Reflex, Primitive Reflex, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD, attention-deficit, Autism Spectrum Disorder, ASD, randomized controlled trial, controlled clinical trial, intervention, along with their Persian equivalents. Of 83 studies published over the past 7 years, 6 studies were included and assessed for methodological quality using the JBI checklist.
Findings: The identified reflex-based interventions applied to individuals with ASD and ADHD included massage and reflexology, chiropractic care, sensory stimulation, and motor stimulation. These interventions were found to be effective in reducing core symptoms of these disorders. Reflexology and motor exercises were common interventions for both ASD and ADHD, whereas massage and chiropractic care were reported only for ADHD, and sensory stimulation was examined exclusively in ASD populations. Most prior studies were case studies with small sample sizes, limiting their external validity.
Conclusion: Reflex-based interventions appear to have beneficial effects on reducing symptoms associated with ASD and ADHD. Further large-scale, controlled studies are warranted to clarify the mechanisms underlying these effects and to establish evidence-based therapeutic protocols.
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