Ambidextrous and learning disabilities

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went through this with my 4 yo. He never showed a strong preference and we began to get feedback from school that his writing/grip was behind his peers. I went to an OT for a private eval, and although I was very clear that I was looking for help with the handedness issue, the OT report was completely useless. It was about his core muscle strength and described him as needing tons of OT to work on his core muscles. I felt like this was missing the point, because he was with or ahead of peers in gross motor activities like soccer.

I ended up just making him choose a hand and use it consistently. I think it could have been either hand, but we made a decision and stuck with it, and his grip and writing have improved so much since he "specialized." He doesn't have any LDs, but he does have some traits that his sibling with ADHD also has. His hair whorl counterclockwise. I read online that this corresponds with ambidexterity or left handedness.

Still only 4? Keep an eye once he's in school for learning disorders - its likely too early to know whether he has them or not. Ours were not obvious until 10 years of age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went through this with my 4 yo. He never showed a strong preference and we began to get feedback from school that his writing/grip was behind his peers. I went to an OT for a private eval, and although I was very clear that I was looking for help with the handedness issue, the OT report was completely useless. It was about his core muscle strength and described him as needing tons of OT to work on his core muscles. I felt like this was missing the point, because he was with or ahead of peers in gross motor activities like soccer.

I ended up just making him choose a hand and use it consistently. I think it could have been either hand, but we made a decision and stuck with it, and his grip and writing have improved so much since he "specialized." He doesn't have any LDs, but he does have some traits that his sibling with ADHD also has. His hair whorl counterclockwise. I read online that this corresponds with ambidexterity or left handedness.

Still only 4? Keep an eye once he's in school for learning disorders - its likely too early to know whether he has them or not. Ours were not obvious until 10 years of age.

He's much older now - that was not clear from my post. He's very academically successful and doesn't have LDs.

[Anonymous]

I think you should talk to someone who can help you figure this out. My son is by no means ambidexterous but he did switch hands constantly due to poor motor planning along, muscle core weakness along with bilateral coordination and midline crossing issues. Basically he used which ever hand was closer. He used to write the letter X in for parts: start with left hand to go from top left to middle; switch hands to right to go from middle to bottom right; switch hands to left to go bottom left up to middle; switch hands to right to go middle to top right. I had him do it in front of an OT and she blurted out, "I have never seen anything like that!" Anyway, worth going to someone who can really figure this out,.