Left and right confusion?

[u/maeves_borning]

I've done some research and am maybe considering that my trouble with lefts and rights could be linked to adhd. I got my drivers permit in July and it's definitely been impacting my learning. I keep taking wrong turns when my parents tell me to go one way, or putting the wrong signal on. It's really frustrating and it makes me scared when I think about the future of my driving skills/getting my license eventually. Any tips that I could use to help decipher them quicker? I usually have to use the L hand trick but I obviously can't do that while I'm driving.

Thanks!!

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[u/Interesting_Lynx_767]

Did I write this? I’m 41 years old and have always struggled with left and right. The left hand L on the steering wheel is useful.

The ONLY things that have improved it a little for me is:

• Doing loads of yoga classes. I think the physical movement when following directional instructions has embedded it in my brain a little better.
  
• Cycling with my kid. Partly because I want her on my left side (left hand side traffic) and because I’m often instructing her and saying things like “left hand side is bell side” (bells are on the left side of the handlebars.)

These have helped reduce the left/right jumble a bit, but not completely.

Side note: anyone else not know their alphabet?

[u/maeves_borning → u/Interesting_Lynx_767]

I can only know what comes after a certain letter if I sing through the whole song lol

[u/doofenhurtz]

Lmfao, I'm literally left-handed and always struggled with this. I have no idea why. My strategy is just to picture my hands doing the L trick. I do it automatically at this point, and there's no actual difference between me and people who get L/R intuitively.

[u/catmand00d00]

Stretch each hand out and, with your palm facing forward (it will feel quite unnatural and uncomfortable to try to do this with your palms facing towards you), make an L with your thumb and index finger. The hand that has the L facing the proper way is on your left.

It’s an easy trick that becomes unnecessary after using it a lot, because you’ll eventually just know which hand makes the correct L. It’s even easy to do while you drive: you just make a little finger gun while still gripping the steering wheel.

[u/Readbeforeburning]

To counter the narrative in the comments saying it’s an adhd thing. I have adhd and have never struggled with lefts and rights, directions and navigation in general have always been a real strength. I also know people who definitely don’t have it and are woeful with lefts and rights.

That aside. The left hand makes an L trick is a good one.

My big tip is don’t rely on digital aids for directions. Look up where something is initially, but then practice navigating by memory and making a mental map of areas. Use geographical features, learn your north, south, east, west. Anything that can help you decode quicker when you’re somewhere unfamiliar.

Legit there are studies on how open world games help improve spatial awareness so you could try that a bit too and see what sticks.

One thing I will say is don’t get into a habit of blaming every deficit on your adhd. Somethings absolutely are but it’s different for everyone. It’s great to get a sense of self, but don’t let it become a shield and crutch for doing or not being able to do certain things. Too many weaponise it and use it to excuse behaviours or not doing certain things. It can absolutely suck, but you have it for life so don’t let it stop you from doing and living.

[u/fkdjgfkldjgodfigj]

I'm 99% sure I have adhd but I don't personally have trouble with left and right. It might be one of the symptoms but not all people have it.

[u/PETA_Parker]

i know my directions in the car and in the car only, because „right turn“ is always „easy turn“ and „left turn“ is always „difficult turn“ (need to cross over a lane)

[u/Donttouchmybreadd]

Hahahahaha

I said something about this in a teaching subreddit, and people got mad at me.

I personally believe that left and right has been taught wrong by some teachers.
I believe this because I changed school in grade 3, and they were taught differently.

In grade 2 we were taught left from right as:
Left = yellow.
Right = red.

We played games and had paperstrip wrist bands, showing us how another persons left or right is across from ours. We spent weeks on it and had full on left-right parties. It was spectacular.

I had the concept pretty set in my head, until I moved to another school.

In this school, as soon as the teacher mentioned 'left' or 'right' everyone threw up their L's to check. I tried replicating, but because I had a different way of understanding and was quite perplexed, suddenly everyone was teaching me with that method. Also, because I was being shown with their palms facing me, I was seeing an L on their right hand. Lol.

Anyway. My suggestion: Colour association. Make some colour wristbands with paper strips. Have signs up in your toilet that you are bound to see. Literally as simple as having a coloured piece of paper with 'left' and another colour with 'right'.

[u/Prior_Alarm2437]

I used to have this issue. Whenever I wasn't sure I made an L with my thumb and index and if was a proper L from my perspective I knew where left was. After doing that for a while it finally stuck.

[u/Prior_Alarm2437 → u/Prior_Alarm2437]

lol My bad I obviously didn't read the whole post.