What is nonverbal learning disorder?
Nonverbal learning disorder is a condition that causes kids to have trouble with visual-spatial thinking, fine and gross motor skills, social communication, and mathematics. These children also have significant strength in rote learning, memorization, and early language development. Kids with NVLD are often good with words but struggle with nuanced or ambiguous communication. These individuals can struggle with recognizing and understanding patterns in facial expressions, reading body language, and making sense of other kinds of nonverbal communication. The disorder is sometimes called NVLD or NLD. They may also have problems with physical coordination, organization, and managing some emotional experiences.
Not all experts recognize NVLD as a formal disorder. Its symptoms can sometimes look like those of other disorders like ADHD or autism. It also varies a lot from kid to kid, so the first step to getting help for a child with NVLD is figuring out exactly what kinds of learning they struggle with.
What are the symptoms of nonverbal learning disorder?
Signs that a child might have nonverbal learning disorder include:
- Trouble understanding visual information
- Trouble grasping spatial relationships and judging distance
- Trouble reading nonverbal social cues, such as facial expressions and body language
- Seeming clumsy or uncoordinated
- Trouble with higher-level math concepts
- Difficulty understanding sarcasm
- Being more straightforward in conversation, and not understanding figurative statements
- Poor organizational and planning skills
- Difficulty breaking down a project into smaller steps
- Difficulty recognizing other people’s emotions
How is nonverbal learning disorder diagnosed?
All kids with NVLD struggle to learn patterns, but that can look very different for different kids. The first step to helping kids with NLD is figuring out exactly what kinds of patterns they have trouble with.
A specialized assessment for NVLD can pinpoint what kinds of learning a child struggles with.
How is nonverbal learning disorder treated?
Learning professionals and therapists can use the results of a child’s assessment to develop the right supports for the child. Treatment involves teaching them to find the kinds of patterns that they might miss on their own. For instance, they can practice breaking problems into smaller steps or get coaching to understand social interactions.
Parents can help by practicing these same strategies with kids at home. When they run into a problem, they can think aloud and talk through the steps they’re taking to figure it out. This can help kids with NVLD see what problem-solving looks like in action and get better at doing it themselves.
