Actions You Can Take Today to Support Your Lefty
There is so much you can do to help your lefty, and I should know, because I’m a leftie and, so is my husband! My kids are not. Funny how genetics work. I am probably not a “true” lefty, because for writing and for holding a utensil for eating, I use my left hand, but I do everything else with my right. I bat, play tennis, cut and kick with my right side.
What does that make me? Ambidextrous? I guess, but not right handed, and not left handed. A hot mess? Maybe. But that’s another story.
According to “Understanding left-handedness,” written in 2011, states that being purely right-handed is the “norm.” Being purely a left-handed is not. Left-handedness is found in only 5% to 25.9% of the population, and it is more common in men than in women. For some skills, an individual tends to be left-handed, but for others, they use both hands or just the right hand.
Origins of Leftys
Archeological and paleontological findings imply that handedness developed early on in human phylogeny. Lefties have existed for millions of year. Archeologists measure bones, look at Paleolithic paintings on cave wall and tools and examine ancient weapons and tools. All have implied handedness.
Heredity and Genetics of Being a Lefty
Left-handers are more likely to have left-handed parents, particularly left-handed mothers. Twin studies also point to a possible genetic component, as the handedness concordance rate of identical twins is higher than that of fraternal twins (81.2% vs. 73.3%).
The intensity of handedness varies. Left-handers perform some activities with the non-dominant hand, and tend to be more ambidextrous. Assessing ambidextrousness poses a challenge because, even if both hands are skilled in a motor action, one hand usually dominates the actual performance. The frequency of “pure” ambidexterity seems to be low, with estimates ranging from 0% to 2%.
When Does Handedness Begin?
Handedness most likely begins in utero. Fetuses show a tendency to use one hand more than another even in sucking on fingers. In general, studies have shown that a fetus tends to suck on the right thumb more often and lean to the right in utero more often than the left. There are exceptions for example, a genetic defect or anomaly may lead to more left handedness or right handedness.
There are studies in which point to certain prevalence that exists for developmental delays, neural tube defects and other mental health issues with those who are left handed. “Left-handedness is reportedly 1.2 to 2 times more common among schizophrenics than in the normal population”
Interestingly, “The development of the left cerebral hemisphere, which probably takes longer to mature than the right hemisphere, might be affected in other phases of brain development. This would result in a transfer of motor functions from the otherwise dominant left hemisphere to the right hemisphere, leading to left-handedness”.
Left-Handedness: Evolutionary and Potentially Advantageous
Multiple studies indicate that the Corpus Collosum of the brain in left handers is larger. This may lead to greater inter-hemispheric connectivity. This may be why left handers are more likely to have higher IQ scores above 131 and have exceptional math ability.
Left handers tend to be great musicians. Perhaps because they are more likely to be able to use both hands at once. (this is a controversial theory). A surprising number of athletes are lefties. This may be due to their dexterity with both hands but may also be because of the potential surprise effect on their opponents when they strike a ball or land a blow from the left side instead of the right.
Disadvantages of Being a Lefty
The world is more likely to be set up for the right handed person. There are more work place accidents that occur with lefties. (simply because the emergency handle is in the right side). Cars are set up for right dominance; leading to more lefties in car accidents. “It has even been reported that left-handers tend to die a few months or even years younger than right-handers; the potential causes that have been considered include a variety of extrinsic factors (e.g., a higher accident rate) and intrinsic ones (e.g., a higher rate of certain diseases)”.
Skills with Laterality
Laterality lends to footedness too. Most right handed people are right footed. Ex. They kick with their right foot. Most left handed people are either left and right footed or right footed. Same with vision. Generally, right handed people are right eyed and left handed people are left or right eyed. This apparently extends to other senses too. Hearing- righties tend to listen to the phone with their right ear; while lefty’s use either or just the right. Smell? tastes? Apparently, it goes on and on.
Quick Tricks & Resources for Lefty’s
(& the Occasional Mixed Righty!)
Check Dominance
Do this by presenting the writing tool at midline and seeing which hand the child consistently grabs with. You’ll need to do this 2-3 times at least. Which hand did they reach with? That’s their dominant hand. Have your child hold a tube up top their eye (to look through). Which eye do they lift it to? That’s the dominant eye. Have your child kick a ball several times. Which leg do they kick with? That’s their dominant leg.
Which side?
Lefties often want to start on the right side of the paper. This is so they can see what they are writing. Add a bright highlighter line along the left side of the paper to help them remember where to start.
The Lefty’s Hand Gets in the Way When Writing
They can‘t see their own writing. This makes it even harder to learn to write or remember what you just wrote. Try tiling the paper slightly clockwise so they can see and their hand is not hooked; but under the line they are writing.
The Hooked Grasp – UGH
If it works, no need to fix it.
BUT
If your kiddo is having a hard time with forming letters, it may be that hooked grasp. Now they are writing upside down. (perceptually). You may need to work on getting their wrist down on the paper and writing with the fingers only (not their wrist). In OT, we call these the “intrinsic finger muscles” or “interphalangeal flexion and extension”.
It’s a Lefty Thing
Yes, being left handed is a thing and there are supports. I love that we have a lefty store very nearby. (I literally get no money from this. They don’t even know I exist. I just think it’s cool!) Lefty’s The Left Hands Store
If you’re looking for more ways to help a lefty give Therapeeps Occupational Therapy a call at (605)-204-0677 or complete our intake form. I help individuals with a wide range of handwriting & fine motor issues, including challenges with dysgraphia and left-handedness.
