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Original Paper
Handedness in the Helsinki Ultrasound Trial
Article first published online: 25 MAY 2011
DOI: 10.1002/uog.8962
Copyright © 2011 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Additional Information
How to Cite
Heikkilä, K., Vuoksimaa, E., Oksava, K., Saari-Kemppainen, A. and Iivanainen, M. (2011), Handedness in the Helsinki Ultrasound Trial. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol, 37: 638–642. doi: 10.1002/uog.8962
Publication History
- Issue published online: 25 MAY 2011
- Article first published online: 25 MAY 2011
- Accepted manuscript online: 8 FEB 2011 01:48PM EST
- Manuscript Accepted: 31 JAN 2011
Keywords:
- confounders;
- handedness;
- prenatal ultrasound;
- randomized trial
Abstract
Objectives
To determine whether exposure to prenatal ultrasound increases non-right-handedness in boys.
Methods
The association between exposure to prenatal ultrasound and handedness was tested, using logistic regression analysis, in the Helsinki Ultrasound Trial data. We applied an intention-to-treat approach in this analysis of a subset of 4150 subjects whose parents answered a follow-up questionnaire on handedness when the children were aged 13–15 years.
Results
The odds ratio for non-right-handedness of children who had been exposed to prenatal ultrasound was 1.16 (0.98–1.37) for all subjects, 1.12 (0.89–1.41) for boys and 1.24 (0.97–1.58) for girls.
Conclusions
We could not confirm the hypothesis that prenatal ultrasound exposure and handedness are associated. Our findings were independent of the particular definition of handedness used, whether it was considered according to the writing hand alone or defined using a laterality quotient. Copyright © 2011 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.