Corpus Collosum

[Jubie1]

Good day
My son is 3 years old. His child development is normal and he is meeting all his goals, talking walking etc.
The only problem is that the left hand is doing exactly the same as the right hand. For example: If he holds a cup in the left hand, the right hand also closes. If I ask him to open his right hand, he drops the cup from the left hand. He is unable to hold his plate with his left hand and lift the spoon with his right hand to feed himself, because this is 2 different functions.
I have taken him for an assessment and I was advised to do a MRI scan to look at his corpus collosum.
Please advise if this could be the problem and how we as parents can assist him etc.
Thank you
Jubie

[subari]

A related discussion, how to maintain my eyes was started.

[Jubie1]

Thank you very much for your response Dr. Kennedy. We live in South Africa and I am not sure which doctor/specialist in South Africa will be able to assist.

Please advise how this can be treated/managed? I would really like to assist him if possible, as I can see that he sometimes gets frustrated when his little hands does not want to do what he wants them to do - if I may say so.

I am concerned about how this is going to affect him going forward.

Thank you
Jubie

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Right now there is really nothing for you to do. It is likely that he will be evaluated by a neurologist if he has not already had such an evaluation. Hopefully the MRI will indicate if indeed the corpus collosum is the origin of the problem. People can lead perfectly normal lives even when the corpus collosum has been disected. Some things that are taken for granted (e.g., being able to tell what an object is when it is held in either hand) cannot be accomplished, but a person learns how to handle such situations. At your son's young age, there is not much to do right now, but if a problem with the corpus collosum is identified, the neurologist will be able to discuss with you what the impact will be and what remedial steps can be pursued.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Yes, this could be the location of the problem. The corpus collosum is a structure located along the midline of the brain, beneath the cortex. It is the structure that joins the left and right hemisheres of the brain, and it is responsible for the coordination of the two sides of the brain. When left/right problems, such as your son's, are identified, the corpus collosum would be a reasonable structure to examine.