Laterality

Laterality is the ability to distinguish between left and right sides of the body and to apply this understanding to the surrounding environment for spatial orientation and navigation. Laterality is a fundamental spatial cognition skill that underpins many daily activities, from following directions to reading maps. For children with visual disabilities, developing laterality can be particularly challenging because they cannot rely on visual landmarks for spatial reference. Audio-based virtual environments and spatial sound technologies have been used to help blind children develop laterality by mapping sounds to cardinal directions, enabling them to practise left-right and directional awareness in a safe, interactive setting.