Lateralization and Hand Dominance and Hand Domination

The two hemisphares.
The human brain resembles two halves of a walnut. The two halves, connected at the centre, are known as the right and left hemisphere.
The left hemisphere controls the right side of the body (the right hand) and the right hemisphere controls the left side of the body (the left hand).
The two hemispheres are essentially symmetrically alike, but they are asymmetrical in function.
Each hemisphere collects the same sensory information but in a different way to suit their specialised functions. Often one hemisphere takes over and
inhibits (suppresses) the other one, we talk about the dominance of the two hemispheres. We tend to process information using our dominant side.

The learning and thinking process is enhanced when both sides of the brain work together. This means that the subdominant hemisphere has to become stronger to balance the function of the dominant one.
The left side of the brain processes information in a linear sequential manner, it solves a problem piece by piece.
It lines up pieces of information and arranges them in a logical order to draw logical conclusions.
People with the left brain dominance live in reality. When reading they look for parts to piece them together to get
to a logical solution. They express themselves well in words.

The left brain processes symbols, letters, words, numbers, pays attention to spelling and punctuation.
It makes remembering and recalling words and spelling rules very easy.
The right brain uses intuition to solve a problem. People with a right hemisphere dominance start working from a whole problem then progress to process the parts.
They start from the answer and work backwards.
The thinking of the right dominant people is random, not organised. They will have problems learning to read using phonics. They prefer to see and understand
words in a context and get their meaning as the right brain is not sequential and planning is not a strong point. Written expression is harder without step to step reasoning.

The right brain tells us what feels right.
Using the right hemisphere we dream, create new ideas, we imagine, we communicate by using facial expression and gestures. We are able to draw pictures to help
to express our ideas and imaginations, we have intuition and creative thoughts.

Sensations from the right side of the body cross over to the left hemisphere.
The left hemisphere controls the right side of the body. For complex functions
both hemispheres need to be involved and work together. Spatial perception,
language and speech, and cognitive thinking are the most complex functions
of the brain. They require a very good cooperation between both hemispheres,
however they cannot work together well without the work of brain stem. Most
sensory and motor messages cross in the brain stem on their way to the cerebral
hemispheres.

Before the different parts of the brain can specialize, they must work together
and communicate with each other. The child with sensory integration dysfunction
will tend to use either hand and will not specialize. This will prevent the two sides
of his body from working together.