Absence of ear asymmetry in blind children on a dichotic listening task compared to sighted controls

Previous investigations of blind children's reading of braille have shown that braille script is more accurately read by the left hand. This phenomenon is conceived of as a reflection of hemispheric specialization, and it is suggested that owing to the highly spatial character of the script, braille reading involves processes in the right hemisphere to a greater extent than normal visual script. The hypothesis is advanced that a group of blind children will exhibit a bilateral pattern of ear asymmetry on a dichotic listening task than a control group of sighted children. The data from an investigation of 66 children, 8 to 17 years old, support this hypothesis. It is argued that this result reflects a difference in hemispheric laterality between blind and sighted children, and the possible cause of this phenomena is discussed in relation to the appropriate research.