Laterality and Directionality
How well a person understands left and right, direction, and orientation in space.
What it is
Laterality and directionality are the skills that help a person understand sides, direction, and position. Laterality refers to awareness of the two sides of the body, especially left and right. Directionality refers to understanding direction in space, such as up and down, before and after, or which way something is facing or moving.
These skills support reading, writing, movement, organization, and everyday visual-motor tasks. A person may see clearly and still struggle with laterality and directionality if left-right awareness, direction, or orientation are less automatic than they should be.
When these skills are weak, tasks may feel more confusing, less organized, or more effortful than expected.
Why It Matters in Daily Life
- Left-right awareness
- Letter and number reversals
- Directionality in reading and writing
- Following movement or directional instructions
- Organization on a page
- Body awareness during school, sports, and daily tasks
How SuccessfulSight™ Works on It
SuccessfulSight™ is designed to work on laterality and directionality as part of a complete virtual vision therapy program prescribed through a participating optometrist. The prescribing doctor provides the clinical data used to design the program, and SuccessfulSight™ uses that information to build the starting point and guide progression over time.
For this skill area, the program may include guided iPad-based activities, interactive visual tasks, and hands-on work designed to strengthen awareness of side, direction, and orientation in both visual and real-space tasks. Video walkthroughs help families understand what to do, and the program tracks performance so progression can adapt over time.
Related Skill Areas
A Note on Diagnoses and Clinical Decisions
SuccessfulSight™ does not diagnose on its own. Clinical decisions about whether the program is appropriate, which skills should be prioritized, and how care should progress are made by the participating optometrist.
Want to See If SuccessfulSight™ May Be a Fit?
The right starting point depends on the patient’s evaluation, symptoms, and goals. A participating optometrist can determine whether laterality and directionality is one of the areas that should be addressed and whether SuccessfulSight™ is appropriate.