How to Test for a Tilting Reaction Reflex

There are four tilting reaction reflexes. The "prone tilting reaction" appears at age six months. The "supine tilting reaction" reaction develops at eight months. The "quadruped tilting reaction" appears two months after that and the "standing tilting reaction" appears in human beings around the first birthday. They all last throughout your life unless something goes wrong, such as developing brain cancer, inner ear abnormalities and Muscular Dystrophy. The first three tests are administered to babies. The tests are used for development disorders in infants, to diagnose inner ear and brain disorders in young adults and to diagnose serious maladies like Parkinson's disease in the aged.

Things You'll Need

• Tilt board
• Table

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Instructions

• 1

  Test the prone tilting reaction by laying the baby prone on a tilt board like a seesaw. Slowly tilt the board and wait for a response. A normal reaction is for the subject to curve his trunk against the displacement of the center of gravity.

• 2

  Lay the baby flat on his back on a table to begin the postural fixation in supine test to evaluate the supine tilting reaction. Encourage the infant to reach with one arm and push that shoulder. The baby should show a slight curving of the spine as he briefly loses his balance.

• 3

  Place the baby on all fours on the floor to test the quadruped tilting reaction. Push shoulder and all four limbs and observe the reaction. The child should rotate the body to maintain a crawling position.

• 4

  Test the standing tilting reaction in children and adults using one of several variations of the Romberg Test. Instruct the subject to close his eyes and place his feet either tightly together or heel to toe. Push the subject's chest or shoulder and observe his reaction to regain his balance. Excess swaying is called "Romberg's sign."