Study of handedness and facial asymmetry in teenagers.

ABSTRACT

Aim of this study was to investigate the distribution and frequencies of facial asymmetry, handedness, arm folding, and digital interlocking. It was also intended to study the correlation between the different functional traits. 200 healthy co-operative volunteers between the age group of 13 & 15 years were selected for the study. Subjects with any deformity of upper limbs & those with the history of injury to vii cranial nerve were excluded from the study. Personal data was collected from the subjects, by providing them a questionnaire, in which they also mentioned whether any of the family members was left handed, if so, their relation to the student. Various tests were conducted to determine handedness & the asymmetry in the face, arm folding, & digital interlocking. Data collected was subjected to tabulation & was subjected to statistical analysis & tested for statistical significance. Chi square test was used with paired T test. Male subjects exhibit a highly significant correlation between handedness and digital interlocking (P<0.01). Female subjects show a highly significant correlation between handedness and digital interlocking (P<0.005). Highly significant correlation exists between digital interlocking and arm folding in both sexes (P<0.0001). Both males and females, exhibit a significant correlation between handedness and vertical wrinkling of the forehead (P<0.05), as well as functional preference of other groups of facial musculatures i.e. winking (P<0.05), and lateral movement of angle of mouth (P<0.01). No significant correlation was seen between facial musculature and sex of the individual. Females showed higher preponderance of left handedness. Significant correlation exists between handedness and the following parameters; digital interlocking, and facial asymmetry.