Application of an ATNR rating scale to normal preschool children.

An Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex Rating Scale was applied to data from 40 normal 3- and 5-year-old children. Raw scores representing degrees of elbow flexion in response to passive head rotation were converted using a four-point scale, and the results of eight trials in quadrupedal posture were summed. These results reinforce those of previous studies: the mean inhibition scores increased with age, whereas the variance decreased. Results also support further development of normative data for clinical use of the scale.