Article for Paediatricians
Diagnosis of Handedness, a Measure of Medical Prevention?
Left-handed and Converted Left-handed Children and Young People
Johanna Barbara Sattler
“Linkshändige und umgeschulte linkshändige Kinder und Jugendliche”
In: Kinder- und Jugendarzt. Zeitschrift des Berufsverbandes der Ärzte für Kinderheilkunde und Jugendmedizin Deutschlands e.V., 32. Jg., Februar 2001, S. 139-147.
(Zu beziehen bei: Hansisches Verlagskontor, 23547 Lübeck, Tel. 04 51 / 70 31-210)
Summary
Among the topics discussed are the early dominance of one hand in left-handed and right-handed children respectively (first until second year of life), as well as the changing, unstable use of hands by other children (often until they start school). A comment on this phenomenon in a child`s medical file might enable purposeful preventive measures.
A brief checklist forming part of the medical examination for school enrolment may spare some left-handed children the fate of learning to write with the right hand (i.e. as converted left-handers). In addition, however it is necessary to initiate preventive measures and instruct parents thoroughly.
No prognosis can be made whether or to what degree a reconversion to the dominant hand can be successful.
Key words: Left-handedness, conversion of handedness, child`s medical file
© Copyright: Dr. Johanna Barbara Sattler, Consulting and Information Center for Left-handers and Converted Left-handers
(Erste deutsche Beratungs- und Informationsstelle für Linkshänder und umgeschulte Linkshänder)
Sendlinger Str. 17, D – 80331 Munich (München), Germany / Europe, Tel./ Fax: +49 / 89 / 26 86 14
http://www.lefthander-consulting.org, e-mail: info@lefthander-consulting.org