Ambidextrous children struggle more at school
Ambidextrous children struggle more at school
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By Darren Estwick. |  |
Monday, 25, Jan 2010 12:05
By Richard James.
New research has found ambidextrous children are twice as likely to do badly in school and suffer from attention problems.
The study from Imperial College London found the children were also twice as likely to be hyperactive as their classmates and suffer from language problems, such as dyslexia.
Researchers claim the problems could be related to difference in how children's brains work, but admitted further investigations are required.
"Mixed-handedness is intriguing," Dr Alina Rodriguez, the study's lead author, said.
"We don't know why some people prefer to make use of both hands when most people use only one.
"Our study is interesting because it suggests that some children who are mixed-handed experience greater difficulties in school than their left and right-handed friends.
"We think there are differences in the brain that might explain these difficulties, but there needs to be more research."
Another study in 2008 found left-handed or 'mixed-handed' children performed worst at school than right-handers.
An estimated 600,000 people in Britain are thought to be ambidextrous.