StuartN wrote:
Does anybody know about "crossing the midline"? Can you tell me something about it, and how it is recognized?
I just had an occupational therapy assessment for sensory integration disorder, and this phrase came up. I am quite old (47) to hear it for the first time, and would appreciate some explanation while I wait for the report.
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Crossing the (imaginary) midline of the body has to do with playing a piano with both hands and one hand crossing over the other hand in either direction; also, jump rope, hopping in a sack, snare drum playing, roller skating, ice skating, walking on a balance beam, walking on a thin, straight line, and many other activities. Most persons do not have hemiplegia but there's a lot of good information which has come from that area about it. -
http://www.hemihelp.org.uk/ - Recall reading a How To (understand) Hyperactivity book (1981) about ADHD Inattentive by C. Thomas Wild which discussed the idea of crossing the midline of the body in great detail including listing three FDA approved medicines which temporarily improved that ability (gross and fine motor control) a little (not a cure). The Wii Fit game also provides insights into body balance, crossing the midline of the body. Subtle midline difficulties are very real for a few persons and some will share that they prefer an automatic car vs a stick-shift car due to the midline motor control challenges (which can affect both hands and feet). Drawing a figure 8 number in the air using both hands held together is an example of crossing the midline of the body. Words: left hemisphere, corpus callosum, right hemisphere, hemiplegia, hemiparesis, strokes, hemispatial (neurological) neglect, dyspraxia, and so on.