ROUTINE ULTRASOUND SCREENING IN PREGNANCY AND THE CHILDRENS SUBSEQUENT HANDEDNESS

Objective: To study a possible association between ultrasound screenin g in early pregnancy and altered cerebral dominance measured by the pr evalence of non-right handedness among children, particularly boys. Me thods: Follow-up of 8 to 9 year old children to women who participated in a randomised controlled trial on ultrasound screening during pregn ancy in 1985-87. The children were followed up through a questionnaire sent to their mothers. The dominant hand of the child was assessed by eleven questions. The dominant foot by one question. Results: No diff erences were found in non-right handedness between children in the scr eening and non-screening group. In separate analyses on ultrasound exp osure and non-right handedness among boys a significant difference was found (odds ratio 1.33; 95% confidence interval 1.02-1.74). Conclusio n: This study could not rule out a possible association between non-ri ght handedness among boys and ultrasound exposure in early fetal life. The association was, however, confined to analyses comparing exposed and non-exposed boys and no associations were found when the compariso ns were performed according to the randomised groups. (C) 1998 Elsevie r Science Ireland Ltd.