0:01 Hey everybody, it's Cheri from The Writing Glitch.

0:04 Today we're going to be talking about the symmetric tonic neck reflex, and this reflex will impact kids when they're writing as well.

0:17 So, how do you test for this one in a baby?

0:19 Is you?

0:22 Well, describing it in an older kid is easier than a baby.

0:27 I don't do the babies very often.

0:29 I do the older kids.

0:30 So when I'm testing this with an older kid, I put them on a horse, and I will have them look up at the board and then look down at the floor while they're on all fours, all fours.

 0:43 And if they sit back on their heels, that's a good sign that is an STNR in the works.

0:52 So what that looks like from a functional standpoint is that kids will have difficulty copying from the board.

1:06 So we often talk about whether can they copy near copy, mid copy, or far copy.

1:11 For those of you who are not OTs, near copy means copying from a book on the desk with them. Mid-copy might be being able to copy from the computer or something just in front of them.

1:29 But can they copy from the board beyond the desk or far copy?

 1:35 So you've got a kiddo that might be struggling with cupping.

1:45 They're losing their place all the time. Every time they go to look up their vestibular system gets confused.

1:55 It doesn't know where to go and doesn't know how to refocus when they look down.

1:59 This vestibular system gets confused and doesn't know where to look.

2:04 It might be even more basic than the vestibular system's reaction.

2:11 It might be that this kid has an STNR, which again is the symmetric tonic ne reflex.

2:22 So, this reflex is helping us learn how to stand up and sit down and do activities where we can tilt our head.

2:33 So if we can't do that, we will have difficulty.

2:40 So, if you have any questions about an STNR sign-up for the upcoming master class this fall, more information is coming.

2:52 But I want to let you know that we'll do another pocket reflex here in a few days, probably Monday again.

3:05 I want you to understand that these reflexes have 1 to 1 connections with writing skill deficits.

3:19 This is Cheri from The Writing Glitch, and this is your Thursday pocket.

3:26 Talk to you soon. Thanks. Bye.