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[cuddlefairy]

Does anyone know anything much about ambidexterity? Especially in linking to poor spacial awareness, writing number and letters backwards and any other learning related matters?  I have a parent who is very keen for an educators perspective but I know practically nothing on the matter.

Comments

[pyrrha17]

Only that it's also linked to stuttering. I'm ambidexterous, but a bad break in my left arm at age 10 has meant I'm basically right-handed now. Funny, I have excellent spacial awareness/abilites, however I'm totally hopeless with left and right.

Would wiki or the internet help?

Hmmmm

[bar_barra]

There may be something in this. I am reasonably ambidextrous and was definitely a slow (though thorough) learner at school in most matters. As a child my spatial awareness was very poor.

[diz_beth]

Why does the parent want to know? ie is it related to their child? If so, has the child been diagnosed with anything or is this just for interest? Or are they information gathering to see whether there is cause for concern?

I guess I'm coming from a different angle here but as an ed psych I always ask these sorts of questions before I can even think about answering a question like that.

Ambidexterity linked to poor spacial awareness can indicate something like developmental dyspraxia, of course along with other symptoms as well.

There are sites and things I could point you towards, but I can't think of them off the top of my head. When I get home (I'm at work tonight) I'll have a look and post some for you if you like.

[pezzae]

From a neurology perspective, I recall it tends to go with language areas being on both sides of the brain (not just left) but I don't recall any discussion of associated learning disabilities. My experience with synaesthesia groups is that people are very keen to link Weird Brain Things together, and generally there is a lot of anecdata and very little actual evidence...