What is mixed handedness?
Mixed handedness, also known as cross-dominance or ambidexterity, refers to having different hands dominant for different tasks. For example, someone who is mixed handed may write with their left hand but throw a ball with their right hand. About 1 in 100 people are mixed handed.
Mixed handedness develops when the left and right sides of the brain are approximately equally competent at controlling different sides of the body. Most people’s brains have a stronger left or right side that takes charge of handedness and footedness. But in mixed-handed people, neither side dominates which can lead to mixed laterality or mixed dominance for eyes, ears, hands and feet.
Signs of being mixed handed
There are a few key signs that can indicate if someone is mixed handed:
- Using different hands for different tasks – For example, writing with the left but throwing with the right.
- Switching hands during tasks – Some mixed handers may switch hands while writing or drawing.
- No clear hand preference – Having no clear preference for using either the left or right hand.
- Using hands together – Mixed handers often use both hands together for tasks like opening jars.
- Being able to use both hands for tasks – Having decent coordination with both hands.
Some other signs of mixed handedness include:
- Changing writing hands due to injury or preference.
- Playing sports with a different hand than you write with.
- Being able to write legibly with both hands.
- Using scissors lefty but computer mouse righty.
- Difficulty determining which hand to use for new tasks.
Am I mixed handed? Ways to test yourself
If you suspect you may be mixed handed, there are some simple tests you can do at home to check. Here are a few options:
Writing hand test
Try writing your name and a short sentence with both hands. If you can write fairly neatly and legibly with both, it’s a sign of mixed handedness.
Throwing hand test
Try throwing a ball or small object with both hands. If you’re significantly better or more comfortable with one hand, that’s likely your dominant hand for throwing. But being able to throw decently with either hand can indicate mixed handedness.
Drawing test
Attempt to draw simple shapes like circles and squares with each hand. If you’re able to draw them fairly well with both hands instead of having a clear preference, it may be a sign of mixed dominance.
Toothbrushing test
Take note of which hand you prefer to hold your toothbrush with. If you switch back and forth, use different hands on different days, or have no obvious preference, it can point to mixed handedness.
Scissors test
Try using scissors with each hand to cut out paper shapes. Being able to adequately use scissors with both hands instead of one clearly dominant hand indicates mixed handedness.
Computer mouse test
Pay attention to which hand you use to control your computer mouse. If you ever switch hands or don’t have a strong preference, it may be due to mixed dominance.
Utensils test
Notice which hand you use to hold your fork, spoon or chopsticks when eating. Consistently switching utensil hands or holding with both is a sign of mixed handedness.
Other ways to determine if you’re mixed handed
In addition to hands-on testing, there are some other ways to evaluate mixed handedness:
- Ask others what hand you use – Friends or family may have observed you favoring different hands.
- Think back to childhood – Look for early memories of using different hands for activities.
- Watch yourself doing tasks – Observe yourself brushing hair, opening doors, etc. and note which hand you use.
- Try new activities – When taking up new sports, instruments or hobbies, see if you gravitate to using one hand or randomly pick.
Asking parents can provide insight, since mixed dominance often appears in early childhood. If you have any photos or home videos of yourself as a toddler, look for clues about hand preference. Observing yourself doing everyday tasks can also reveal hand dominance patterns you may not have noticed.
History of hand usage
Reflecting on hand usage throughout your life can provide clues about mixed handedness:
- Which hand did you use for writing, coloring or drawing as a child? Did it change over time?
- What sports did you play growing up and which hand did you use? Did hand preference vary by sport?
- Think about household chores – which hands did you use for sweeping, ironing, sewing etc?
- Look back at school subjects like woodshop, metalwork or home economics – do you remember a hand preference?
- Which hand did you use for fine motor tasks like tying shoes, buttoning clothes or assembling models?
- For musical instruments like piano or guitar, which hand played the melody?
Noticing a pattern of switching hand preference by activity or age can indicate mixed handedness, even if the tendency has weakened over time.
Causes & theories on mixed handedness
Researchers aren’t entirely sure what causes mixed handedness, but have some theories:
- Genetics – Mixed hand preference often runs in families, supporting a genetic link.
- Brain hemispheres – Having no clear dominance of one brain hemisphere over the other may allow mixed handedness.
- Evolution – It may have offered an evolutionary advantage to use both hands skillfully.
- Birth factors – Issues during pregnancy or delivery may impact brain development and handedness.
- Environmental influences – Forcing children out of their natural hand preference to conform to right handedness.
Research shows left-handedness also correlates with mixed dominance, indicating a genetic component. But factors like birth stress or being forced to switch hands as a child may also play a role. More research is needed to understand causes.
Assessing hand performance
To further evaluate mixed handedness, you can compare how well you do specific tasks with each hand:
Speed
Time yourself writing, drawing or throwing with each hand. Similar speeds can signal mixed handedness.
Legibility
Have someone else judge readability of writing samples from each hand. Being able to write legibly with both indicates mixed dominance.
Accuracy
Measure accuracy of things like target throws at a set distance or drawn shapes. Close accuracy on both sides points to mixed handedness.
Comfort
Note comfort levels doing tasks with each hand. If discomfort is similar, it may be due to mixed hand preference.
Endurance
See how long you can comfortably write, draw or squeeze a ball with each hand. Similar endurance indicates mixed handedness.
Keeping performance metrics from both hands can reveal if one hand truly dominates for common tasks. Close parity between hands points to mixed dominance.
Impact of mixed handedness
Mixed handedness is simply a natural variation and has no negative health effects. Some impacts include:
- Better at multi-tasking – Using both hands makes multitasking easier.
- Advantage at some sports – Tennis, boxing, baseball can benefit from using both hands.
- May earn more money – Some research links mixed-handers with higher incomes.
- More resilient to injury – Can switch hands if one is injured.
- Can confuse right-handed tools – Some scissors, guitars etc require right hand.
- Often labeled as left-handed – Since right is “default” hand preference.
While mixed handedness is neither good nor bad, it does come with some advantages as well as minor frustrations. But mixed handers can succeed at most any activity with awareness and practice.
Tips for managing mixed handedness
- Allow time to determine your preferred hand for new activities instead of forcing one.
- Find adaptive versions of strictly right-handed tools when possible.
- Be open about your handedness so others understand when you switch hands.
- Try tasks both left-handed and right-handed before deciding your preference.
- Focus on your capabilities rather than limitations.
- Set up workstations that accommodate both hands.
While mixed handedness can be tricky at times, with creativity and flexibility it rarely limits what you can accomplish!
Conclusion
Mixed handedness is an interesting quirk affecting about 1% of people. Determining if you are mixed handed can take some sleuthing, but looking for key signs like switching hands for different tasks or being able to use both hands adeptly for the same activity can confirm mixed dominance. Testing yourself on writing, throwing, drawing or other unilateral activities provides more evidence, as does looking back at your hand usage history since childhood.
While the causes are still somewhat a mystery, mixed handedness seems to involve having neither brain hemisphere take charge of controlling handedness. There are both advantages and minor frustrations to being mixed handed. But it is a harmless natural variation with little impact on most activities with the right adaptations. If you suspect you may be mixed handed, try some self-tests and consider the clues. With the right assessment, you can get confirmation of this unique left-right brain wiring!