ABSTRACT
Although young children have great difficulty distinguishing left from right, it does seem, at least superficially, that the problem does not extend much beyond childhood. Some adults continue to experience left–right confusion, particularly under conditions of stress, as when giving or following directions while driving a car, but the overwhelming picture is one of reasonable competence. Few literate adults will inadvertently reverse words or letters when writing and most are quick to spot such reversals in the early efforts of their children.