Left vs. Right Brain: Which Side is the Problem?

Conventional wisdom in the neuropsychological and neurological fields says that the messy, clumsy, spatially and numerically challenged among us—those diagnosed with NLD (Nonverbal Learning Disorder), or what we call GPS—have a “right” brain problem. But the evidence to support this claim is extremely weak, to put it mildly.

Could it be that conventional wisdom has it backwards?

Susan’s brain images and neurological exams show that, at least in her case, the LEFT HEMISPHERE is the PROBLEM and the Right Hemisphere is her strength.

And there is reason to believe that others with similar symptoms may be, like Susan, RIGHT brain people that are being “treated” as if the RIGHT side were their weakness and the left side their strength. Interventions that start with so wrong-headed a premise cannot possibly be the most effective, and might do much harm. Put simply, teaching to people’s weaknesses, and ignoring their strengths, is not a winning strategy.

What makes us think others with NLD/GPS-like symptoms might be RIGHT brained thinkers, like Susan, when the “professionals” dispute this? First, we have reviewed the evidence upon which the conventional view is based. We are, for the most part, lawyers, not doctors or neuro-scientists, so others may discount what we say. But one thing is true: We are trained to review the strength of evidence and it is our view that the evidence of right-brain impairment is woefully thin.

Second, we know this: Once many of those classified as NLD might have been diagnosed with a left-brain based disorder, Developmental Gerstmann’s Syndrome. Developmental Gerstmann’s Syndrome, a now all-but-discarded diagnosis, has its origins in acquired Gerstmann’s Syndrome, a condition resulting from a stroke or other injury to the left angular gyrus, a portion of the left parietal lobe. Injury to that portion of the LEFT hemisphere has long been associated with dyscalculia (difficulty with arithmetic) and left-right confusion (a spatial problem). This supports the notion that some spatial/numerical deficit problems may be associated with left hemisphere dysfunction.

At the least, it raises the question: Were we too quick to move people who once would have been understood as having a left-brain problem (those who would have been diagnosed in the past with Developmental Gerstmann’s Syndrome) to the right-brain problem column of NLD?

Finally, we have now met many people with a diagnosis of NLD. We have talked to parents of children with this diagnosis. And we find this: Most, if not all of them, seem very much like Susan in their strengths and weaknesses. That doesn’t prove that they too have weak left hemispheres and strong right ones, but it does mean it’s possible the professionals and their treatments are wrong.

Go back to the Myths page