Journalism Article New Studies Compare Left-Handers to Right-Handers By: Sarah Austin Recent studies have shown that

left-handed people may in fact be at a disadvantage compared to right-handed people, and left-handers are talking. Diane Halpern of California State University at San Bernardino and Staley Coren of the University of British Columbia conducted research a year ago comparing the death and accident rates of left and right-handed people in order to determine why there are fewer left-handed people among the elderly population in the US. The results of the studies showed the left-handed people were more likely to die from injuries of all kinds than right-handed people, and overall left-handed people dont live as long as right-handed people. Halpern attributed the commonality of accidents among left-handers to engineering problems. Almost all engineering is geared to the right hands and right foot, Halpern says. There are many more car and other accidents among left-handers because of their environment. Of the three left-handed people I interviewed at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, all could testify to engineering being an issue. Mark dAndrea, a left-handed senior majoring in Hospitality Management, completely agreed with engineering being a problem, particularly while driving. I drive a stick-shift, so driving can definitely be a task, dAndrea says. I have to focus on shifting with my right hand and pushing down the gas and brake pedals with my right foot. Mark dAndrea also told me that he had in fact been in several car wrecks, so he was actually not surprised by the results of the study. It makes since that left-

handed people have more car accidents than right-handed people, Mark said. Were forced to use a hand that we arent used to using to drive, especially those with a stick shift like me. While dAndrea had problems with driving, another person I interviewed faced difficulties with such simple tasks as taking notes in class. Andrew Bouchard, a senior Recreation Management major, finds writing in notebooks to be a challenge due to the placement of the spiral. I cant find a comfortable place to rest my hand while Im writing, Bouchard states. The spiral is always in the way, except when you turn the page and write on the back. One solution to this problem has been lefthanded notebooks. These notebooks are sold in the Appalachian State University Book Store. The spiral is located on the right side of the notebook as opposed to the left so left-handed students can write comfortably on the front of the page; but it does not solve the problem if you write on the back of the page. Bouchard was also not surprised by the study that showed that left-handers are more likely to be in accidents, but he was shocked by the facts showing that right-handers tend to live-longer than lefthanders. I guess maybe its because we are more accident prone, he speculates. Another problem that left-handed people encounter is desks in the classroom, according to Lindsay Maddux, a left-handed junior majoring in elementary education with a focus in math. Most of the classrooms here at ASU dont even have left-handed desks, and if they do, there is only one or two, Maddux says. Its really hard for a left-handed person to sit at a right-handed desk. We have no place to rest our left arm while writing, and it makes it extremely awkward and uncomfortable. She was also surprised by the results of the study. I had no idea that there was any correlation between which hand you wrote with and your lifespan. Regardless of the studies, Halpern says not to worry if you are left-handed or have left-handed children. Its important that mothers of left-handed children not be alarmed and not try to change which hand a child uses, Halpern explains. There are many, many old left-handed people.