Hands-Grasping Reflex Delays Handwriting and Speech Development if Retained

This article contains information regarding the Hands-Grasping reflex and how it may impact a child’s learning development. Integrated Learning Strategies (ILS) is a learning and academic center. As a reminder, ILS is not a health care provider and none of our materials or services provide a diagnosis or treatment of a specific condition or learning challenge you may see in your child or student. If you seek a diagnosis or treatment for your child or student, please contact a trained professional who can provide an evaluation of the child.

The Hands-Grasping Reflex is one of the most important primitive reflexes in a child’s development because it can impact the child’s future handwriting and fine motor skills.

The reflex is also known as the Palmar Grasp reflex and is developed in utero and appears at birth. A baby depends on the Hands-Grasping reflex in the first few months of life (birth to six months). Around six months old, the reflex should integrate as the child develops voluntary grasping skills used when they reach for objects intentionally.

What is the Hands-Grasping Reflex used for?

Babies use the Hands-Grasping reflex for holding objects, but also for oral motor movements like sucking and bringing food up to the mouth.

The Hands-Grasping Reflex is used for many of the following tasks:

• Supporting the baby’s weight while trying to balance, walk or stand
• Holding objects between their thumb and index finger (pincer grasp)
• Release objects
• Speech and language
• Crawling

What Happens if the Reflex doesn’t Integrate?

As the child grows older, if the Hands-Grasping reflex does not integrate and remains present in the child, you may notice delays or challenges in a number of learning areas. The reflex supports the child’s ability to grasp and release objects that lead to skills used for the following:

• Handwriting
• Drawing
• Use of Scissors
• Forming letters and numbers
• Speech and language skills
• Use of utensils
• Ability to use buttons, fastens and zippers

If the reflex is retained, the child may struggle with a number of the following:

• Manual dexterity
• Upper-body gross motor skills
• Development of pencil grasp
• Trouble with using utensils, clothing and other functional skills
• Handwriting development
• Swimming
• Throwing and catching a ball
• Stuttering and articulation issues
• Swallowing and oral sensory setbacks
• May stick out the tongue while writing
• Light or tight pencil grip

In addition, a child who has retained the Hands-Grasping reflex may have trouble with written expression and will have a hard time copying notes from the chalkboard or expressing their ideas on paper. The tension in their body may interfere with the flow of ideas and creativity.

Retained Primitive Reflexes Roadmap

If you are interested in learning more about retained Primitive Reflexes and how they affect a child’s learning development, download the Primitive Reflexes Roadmap here:

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