Gus Walz’s sweet and awkward moment in the spotlight during his father’s speech at the Democratic National Convention last week has a lot of people wondering: What is nonverbal learning disorder (NVLD)? The first thing to know is that kids with NVLD are not nonverbal. It’s the kind of learning they struggle with that is nonverbal, including patterns, relationships, and concepts. Think of it as the opposite of dyslexia: Kids with NVLD have no trouble reading or acquiring facts, but they struggle with understanding how that information fits together. 

This week at childmind.org, we offer a closer look at nonverbal learning disorder, which affects an estimated 3 to 4 percent of kids in North America but is often misdiagnosed. Kids with NVLD may be socially awkward because they don’t understand social situations and expectations. They may be physically clumsy because they don’t pick up on visual patterns. They may have trouble solving problems and organizing their thoughts (not to speak of their backpacks!) because concepts and systems elude them. We also explain how teachers and parents can help kids with NVLD learn those missing patterns and skills, and how learning disorders like NVLD can pose social challenges for kids. And we offer advice on how to help kids who struggle with executive functions, as many kids with NVLD, ADHD, and other learning disorders do.

– Caroline Miller, Editorial Director | ✉