If the left side is affected in the patient, what is the default classification for dominance?

In the context of handedness and brain dominance, if the left side is affected in a patient, the default classification for dominance is generally considered to be nondominant. This is based on the understanding that right-handed individuals, who represent the majority of the population, typically have their dominant cerebral hemisphere on the left side of the brain. Therefore, issues affecting the left side of the body usually indicate an impairment in the dominant right hemisphere's functioning, leading to the classification of the affected side as nondominant.

This classification helps healthcare professionals understand the nature of neurological deficits and plan appropriate interventions. Nondominant refers to the side of the body that is controlled by the non-dominant hemisphere, which would be the right hemisphere for most right-handed individuals. In this way, identifying the side affected as nondominant provides a clear framework for understanding and addressing the patient’s condition, even in the presence of mixed-handed patients or those with atypical brain lateralization.