Reliability of the Lateral Dominance Examination.

The reliability of the Lateral Dominance Examination over a 5-year period was evaluated in 162 normal and neurologically impaired adults. Stability of individual test items was appraised as well as that of summary measures of handedness, eyedness, and footedness. Items evaluating handedness rendered highly consistent results with the most reliable item relating to hand used for writing (100%). Eyedness and footedness items were somewhat less reliable. While the data raised the possibility that non-right-handers may be slightly less consistent over time, membership in a neurological group, extent of impairment on neuropsychological tests, and gender were unrelated to consistency in lateral preference measurement. It is concluded that the Lateral Dominance Examination is a reliable measure of lateral preference.