Nonverbal learning disorder

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Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NLD) (also known as NVLD) is a frequently misdiagnosed state of anxiety, confusion and social withdrawal caused by neurologically-based inabilities to send and receive common gestures, facial expressions and body-language cues. NLD persons may misread everyday nonverbal signals, display awkward body movements and have difficulty associating visual signs in space and time.

Nonverbal learning disorder overview

NLD is a neurological syndrome characterized by the impairment of nonverbal or performance-based information controlled by the right hemisphere of the brain. Difficulties will arise in the areas gross motor control, inability to organize visual-spatial relations, or adapt to novel social situations. Frequently, a person with NLD is unable to interpret non-verbal signals and cues, and therefore he or she experiences difficulty interacting with peers in socially normative ways. A person with this neurological condition may frequently excel in areas of verbal ability, as well as have excellent spelling and reading comprehension skills. A diagnosis of a non verbal learning disorder has no correlation to level of intelligence.

NLD generally presents with specific assets and deficits. The assets include early speech and vocabulary development, remarkable rote memory skills, attention to detail, early reading skills development and excellent spelling skills. In addition, these individuals have the verbal ability to express themselves eloquently. Moreover, persons with NLD have strong auditory retention.

The four major categories of deficits and dysfunction present as follows:

•motoric (lack of coordination, particularly on the left-hand side of the body, severe balance problems, and difficulties with graphomotor skills).

•visual-spatial-organizational (lack of image, poor visual recall, faulty spatial perceptions, difficulties with executive functioning[1] and problems with spatial relations).

•social (lack of ability to comprehend nonverbal communication, difficulties adjusting to transitions and novel situations, and deficits in social judgment and social interaction).

•sensory (sensitivity in any of the sensory modes: visual, auditory, tactile, taste or olfactory).

Persons with NLD are particularly inclined toward developing secondary internalizing disorders such as stress, anxiety and panic, as well as debilitating phobias. Without appropriate intervention, the cumulative effect of ongoing stress can advance to an unmanageable state of anxiety for an NLD person, who is already predisposed to internalizing disorders.

Brain scans of individuals with NLD often confirm mild abnormalities of the right cerebral hemisphere.

Like most disorders, not everyone with NLD will manifest his or her abilities and deficits in the same way and each individual will have his or her own strengths and weaknessess.

Notes

  1. ^ "Executive Functioning":--Neuropsychological functions including, but perhaps not limited to, decision making, planning, initiative, assigning priority, sequencing, motor control, emotional regulation, inhibition, problem solving, planning, impulse control, establishing goals, monitoring results of action, self-correcting. In some cases this will mimic ADHD, but a comprehensive neuropsychological examination can generally distinguish between the two

References

See also

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