My 15 Months Old Prefers to Use Right Hand over Left. I'm Worried.

geesh, I have never heard of this!! My son was SOOOO strongly left handed! At about 5 months he would only reach with his left hand. At 1 he was eating with his left hand. He has always favored his left hand. His doctor never said anything to me about being worried, we never had an MRI (for that), and he is 8 now and perfectly fine...although definetly a lefty! I say, no MRI unless there is something else going on. She sounds like a righty. :)

My oldest didn't show a preference until they made him pick a hand to start writing with in pre-k. He's still very ambidextrous on many things. My other two were clearly showing right hand dominance by 6 months - no mental/physical/emotional delays. I know books say they shouldn't show dominance yet, but I wouldn't put much stock in it. Most children I come in contact with exhibit handedness by a year.

It sounds like they may be concerned that she's having a hard time knowing when to "cross her midline" and using her "bilateral coordination". Basically, it's not that she's showing "dominance", but the fact that she's having a hard time using both hands either together or in a developmentally appropriate manner. For example, if you put her toys on her left side, does she reach with her left hand or does she turn her body to use her right?

I would get a second opinion. If the second neurologist feels that it is better to rule-out a brain injury or lesion then do it. God forbid something is going on and you don't find it out. I don't want to scare you, but we went through something different (still neuro-related) with my nephew and they discovered that he had a rare seizure disorder that would only have been detected using MRI pictures.

Is she receiving services for her language development and social development? If not, look into it! If so, the neurologist may be trying to monitor her overall skill development b/c he sees a possible pattern.

Since she has the delay in communication also, I would probably go ahead with the MRI. The sooner you find out or rule out different senarios the better for your baby.

I was a late walker and then when I did walk I dragged my foot like a dead weight. They ran some tests (pre-MRI years) and determined that I had slight CP. They aren't sure when that happened, but it had. I'm now 36, mom of 2. I function well. My left side has always been weaker than my right. When I'm tired I limp. Otherwise just looking at me, I'm normal.

Get a second opinion. It will hurt a lot less, then an unnecessary MRI. If you get multiple opinions and they all say MRI, then you can feel confident about that situation. It's better to avoid MRIs and X-rays this young, so definitely consult other specialists.

I'm actually an ambi...let her use the hand that she wants to. So what if she's still using both hands? Babies develop at different rates. I would NOT subject her an MRI right now. It is WAY too soon to jump to conclusions.

While they aren't supposed to PICK a hand till later in life, they do go through periods of using one more than another. I would talk to the doctor and find out what an MRI could tell you. Is there anything that could benefit her, if they "truly" think something is wrong? If not, I don't think I would get the MRI.

First, MRI's are proven to promote and spread the growth of cancer cells. Save it for a life and death situation.

Second, seriously?! My kids ALWAYS used their right hands since birth, grabbing at things, picking up things, etc. This was NEVER a cause for concern. We also come from a family of people, both sides, who are ambidexrious... even with that family history, this was never a cause for concern. At 15 months, kids are going to whatever it takes to get their hands on what they want... I would get a second opinion from another pediatrician if you're that worried about it, but I honestly think you shouldn't waste another second worrying about it.

Being delayed in social and communications skills isn't necessarily something to worry about either. It's about age and maturity levels. My baby brother didn't talk until he was 6 because he had 2 older siblings to communitcate for him... he graduated high school 3 years early and is borderline genius now.

If it were my child, I wouldn't think twice about it, and I certainly wouldn't spend time/money/my childs well being on an MRI for something so trivial. Unless there is some other cause for concern (abnormal blood test, previous MRI/CT scan that showed abnormalities, or a family history of genetic disorders) I would let it ride and see what the outcome is. Most kid switch up their hands until they are actually writing at school age.

BEST WISHES!! :)

Sounds like it can't hurt. I would rather rule it out then not have one done and wonder about it.

Wait.
Continue to play and sing with her.
When you play with her, offer her toys and other stuff
sometimes to the right and sometimes to the left.
Presuming you have started letting her feed herself little items,
does she always pick them up only with her right hand?
Or sometimes with either hand?
Give it at least a few months before you worry.
And then, don't worry.
Go back to the doctor and discuss.

I can't tell from your post if the neurologist thinks an MRI is needed or if he's offering one to lessen your anxiety. If as Krista P. suggests the doctors are concerned about something specific as they were with her child then an MRI makes sense. Before I would have my child have an MRI I'd be sure it was needed for actual medical reasons and not just because Mom is worried.

Is it possible that your daughter has a developmental disorder that accounts for her speech and social delays? Again, I'm not sure what you mean when you say she has delays. Is her pediatrician concerned about them? Has she been tested by a speech pathologist? Fifteen months is still very young. Could she just be a bit later than the average toddler?

As others have said, babies and toddlers alternate the use of their hands. The preference for her right hand would not be of concern to me.

Because you say you're worried, I wouldn't discount the delay or the MRI. I'd just want to be sure that there is a need for them. It's easy, in today's focus on learning disabilities and development disabilities to get caught up in over concern. Talk with her doctors with a mind towards allowing them to reassure you. Try out thinking she is normal instead of looking for difficulties if that is what you're doing.

You have a lot of good advice. Just wanted to share with you that our dr. had told us that our daughter might have water in the brain when she was 11 month old. He refered us to a neurologist, so we needed to decide if we wanted to take her or just wait. But we went ahead with it, just to ease our minds. We went and he told us she was perfectly fine and even about 6 months ahead of her age bracket.
So I would say go ahead and have the MRI done to ease your minds. All kids come around at their own time. I know a little boy at my daughters daycare, he is 2yrs old and doesn't talk just yet. But he is the most happy go lucky little boy. He runs around and plays like a 2yr old should.
I would get so upset with my Inlaws trying to get my daughter to use just her right hand, I think they are just trying to get a feeling of which hand they will use. And even if they use both that is way better, that makes them that much more intellegent.

Hi,
As a special education teacher I keep up on the latest research and articles in regards to special needs children. I found this study that may be of interest to you. Doctors are not always up on the latest developments in medicine.
You are a good mother to question, you'll keep doing the right things for your daughter.
Wendy
http://f1000.com/reports/m/2/68/

no both of my boys are ambidextrious and one of them is 21 and still ambidextrious bieng ambidextrious works in there favor at times especially if they play baseball they can get walked every time a right handed pitcher cant pitch to a left hitter and a left pitcher cant pitch to a right hitter. but brain damage I would need more to go on than being ambidextrious. sounds a little premature to me. jmo they are supposed to outgrow ambidextrious and why cant she settle on one or the other. I would ask for more reasons the mri is necessary.

I'd do the MRI. The sedation will be light, since there are no incisions. If there is anything wrong the quicker you know the quicker you can deal w/ it. Or there may be nothing, and then you'll have peace of mind.

also, MRI's have ZERO radiation. The person that posted saying MRI's have been proven to increase cancer is wrong. I have never even heard that before. CT's have a higher level of radiation than x-rays. Maybe that is what she was thinking?

I hear the fear is your voice but it is ALWAYS much better to know than not. Please have the procedure then if there is nothing the worry is over; however, if there is something then you can get started right away with whatever therapy she needs. I always believe that it is better to error on the side of caution. Please let us know what happens.

Penny Amic CEO/Clinical Director
Special Beginnings, Inc.
An Early Intervention Network