5th International Conference on Neuroscience and Mental Health

Hannah Walton is a nurse qualified from Coventry University, where she attained a 1st. She is currently working for Alexander Devine Hospice and looking to publish her literature review on the effectiveness of treatments for retained primitive reflexes for children with autism and/or ADHD.

Retained Primitive Reflexes (RPR's) are frequently observed in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and may serve as early indicators of developmental delays or nervous system dysfunction. Therefore, it is crucial that effective treatments are developed in order to limit the effects of these, creating a better quality of life for patients. This is an important outcome for patients, which is not an objective measurement. This literature review examines five articles on different treatments for children with ASD and/or ADHD. The treatments examined are hemispheric integration therapy, chiropractic management and TENS. It then compares the quality and reliability of these articles, using the CASP tool and their results, grouping them into three themes: reduction of RPR’s, increase in skills and reduction in background activity. Ensuring trustworthiness in articles is integral in establishing whether articles are credible and reliable [91]. This author then explains how the results found can be applied to practice and where further research is needed. Research has an important role in transforming health care [92].