Non-verbal Learning Disorder

Learners with this disorder usually suffer in silence

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What is Non-verbal Learning Disorder?

Researchers have defined it in this way:

"Nonverbal Learning Disorder Syndrome (NVLD) is a specific type of learning disability that affects children's academic progress as well as their social and emotional development."

Non-verbal Learning Disorder is an interesting disorder because it develops throughout one's life.

Some characteristics that NLD On the Web have provided (http://www.nldontheweb.org/home.html) of the disorder are:

Academic Performance

• WISC Verbal IQ is often higher than the Performance IQ.
• Strong to exceptional vocabulary and more than typical verbal expression.
• Strong to exceptional auditory rote memory skills.
• Excellent attention to detail, but not so for the big picture.
• The individual may be an early reader, OR may have early reading difficulties. Common difficulty with reading comprehension beginning in the upper elementary grades, especially for novel material.
• Difficulties in math are common, especially in the areas of word problems and abtract applications.
• Concept formation and abstract reasoning may be significantly impaired.
• Significant difficulty generalizing information - e.g. applying learned information to new or novel situations.
• Generally they are auditory, unimodal learners (may not look or write while processing).

Social Interaction

• Process at a very concrete level and interpret information quite literally.
• Significant weakness with processing nonverbal communication such as body language, facial expressions, or tone of voice.
• Unable to intuit what is not specifically stated.
• May present as uncooperative.
• Tremendous difficulty with fluid or difficult social interactions.
• Lack "street smarts" - can be incredibly naive.

Physical

• Appear to lack coordination - do better in individual rather than team sports.
• Impaired fine motor skills - handwriting may be poor and/or laborious.
• Significant problems with spatial perception are common.
• Difficulty learning to ride a bicycle, catch and/or kick a ball, hop and/or skip.

Anxiety

• Anxiety and/or depression may be quite severe, especially during adolescence.
• Individuals tend to be withdrawn by middle school, and may actually become agoraphobic.
• Cannot readily adapt to new situations, or changes to routine.
• Self-esteem problems are common. Increased incidence of suicide within the NLD population.

Learn more about:

• Diagnosis: essential for determining where the breakdowns are occurring
• Interventions: learning disorders CAN be overcome!