Thinking about learning disorders, we tend to think that a person is just bad at math, a language, or a skill which basically makes us think they’re not good at studying. Non-verbal learning Disorder (NVLD) is however, a condition that people have never heard of, yet affects the lives of so many.
NVLD makes it difficult for individuals to read non-verbal cues like body language and understanding facial expressions. What makes this disorder invisible is that it’s often hidden behind strong verbal skills; people with NVLD may excel in areas like speaking, reading, and writing which masks the difficulties they face in other areas.
Understanding this condition is, therefore, key to fostering a more supportive and inclusive environment where everyone can prosper.
Understanding Nonverbal Learning Disorder
Non-verbal learning disorder is a neurological condition that affects the right side of the brain. People with this disorder tend to have trouble with attention and organizing thoughts, non-verbal communication like thinking literally or not being able to understand jokes.
They also struggle with fine motor skills like using a pair of scissors or tying shoelaces, and gross motor skills like riding a bike or even bumping into things and places. This is commonly seen in children but could persist through adulthood.
It is often associated with ADHD(Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) and ASD(Autism Spectrum Disorder) but doesn’t necessarily have to that disorder.
Causes Of Nonverbal Learning Disorder
The exact cause for NVLD is unknown although, a study found that prolonged labor, low birth weight, functional difference between the right and left brain, premature birth, and serious infections could be some causes.
This is a neurodevelopmental condition that is believed to stem from a dysfunction in the right hemisphere of the brain. A person with a nonverbal learning disorder would be able to memorize things excellently but would lack social skills.
Symptoms Of Nonverbal Learning Disorder
A person with NVLD has poor physical coordination, organization skills and problem-solving which are some of the early symptoms.
Trouble with telling time with analog clocks, higher-level math questions, and non-verbal communication like understanding sarcasm and recognizing other people’s emotions are some of the other symptoms.
They may also have trouble telling/understanding directions like differentiating between right and left. High talkativeness and strong reading skills but poor comprehension are also common among these people.
Areas Of Difficulty Associated With NVLD
People with NVLD have trouble with executive functioning like trouble organizing things and regulating emotions. They may also have difficulty in coming up with a plan in order to complete a task.
~Visual and Spatial Awareness
Visual-spatial awareness would be less in people with NVLD. They would not have a sense of direction and estimate distance and time. They would find difficulty in drawing, writing or telling time using analog clocks.
~Higher-Order Comprehension
Higher order comprehension is the ability to apply facts and information to acquire other forms of information; questions like ‘How would you have solved the problem?’ or ‘What would you do in such a situation?’
~Social Communication
Communication skills like active listening, the ability to understand body language, conflict resolution that involves being observant and empathetic, and taking turns speaking which means not interrupting when the other person is talking are all comparatively slighter in people with NVLD.
~ Math Concepts
People with NVLD have difficulty with advanced math concepts like word problems and algebra. But they’re extremely good at rote learning and can do well by memorizing the data.
~Executive Functions
Executive functions are cognitive skills that help us control and coordinate our behaviors and other cognitive abilities like multitasking; this would be difficult for such a person as they would not efficiently be able to focus and divide their attention to two different tasks simultaneously. Understanding visual concepts like graphs and charts and essay writing would be backbreaking for a person with NVLD.
How Is Nonverbal Learning Disability Diagnosed?
Nonverbal learning disability is not an official diagnosis, however, conducting academic and cognitive tests helps distinguish NVLD and other disorders related to it in children. Similarly in adults, a comprehensive evaluation by a psychologist is conducted to determine areas of strengths and weaknesses of that person.
Here, the overall intellectual abilities, verbal and non-verbal abilities, attention functioning, and language are monitored and evaluated along with behavioral and adaptive functioning. Subsequently, a feedback session is conducted to go through the results and describe the learning profile of those with NVLD.
Treatment For Nonverbal Learning Disorder
The symptoms of NVLD can vary from person to person so a comprehensive assessment will help identify the symptoms and after its recognition, they will develop appropriate supports like occupational therapy to improve fine motor skills and address sensory issues, cognitive therapy to help people deal with anxiety and self-doubt, vision therapy to help with focusing, tracking, etc. and physical therapy to improve coordination, strength, and balance. Educational intervention for children helps them cope at school.
Conclusion
NVLD is a disorder that people struggle with and often goes unrecognized or misunderstood. While individuals with NVLD are typically strong in their verbal abilities, they face challenges that make their relationships, school, and everyday life difficult.
Recognizing such a disorder and providing the right support can make a huge difference, helping those affected to develop the skills everyone needs to navigate and thrive. By raising awareness of NVLD, we can empower parents, educators, and healthcare professionals to create supportive environments that help individuals with NVLD to succeed, not just with one problem but in life too.
FAQs
No. Even though NVLD and autism share some traits, they are two different neurological diseases with differing diagnosis standards. While autism entails difficulty with social communication and repetitive activities, NVLD is characterized by impairments in fine motor skills and spatial processing.
NVLD is not an official diagnosis, however, conducting academic and cognitive tests helps distinguish NVLD and other disorders related to it. Further analysis of the disorder can be acknowledged determining the symptoms.
There is no established treatment however, a variety of therapies like occupational therapy, cognitive therapy, and physical and vision therapy are some of the treatments accessible and further adjustments can be used to meet the specific needs of each person.
The deficits of NVLD usually become noticeable around 10 years of age and older. This is because verbal skills, memorization, social cues like tone of voice and facial expressions, and higher-order reasoning skills like figuring out details only become pragmatic later on in life.
Teenagers often have trouble learning some concepts and remembering them afterward; it’ll be hard to implement feedback and format assessments for them. Messy handwriting and messy eating are other common factors among teenagers with NVLD. They also find it difficult to learn new languages and play certain types of sports. NVLD teenagers also demonstrate high levels of anxiety, including separation anxiety.
As a person becomes older, the deficiencies can become clearer and more noticeable. There are clear deficiencies in social perception, judgment, and interaction abilities. Struggles to make sense of abstract concepts can become difficult and more noticeable motor difficulties start to arise. These deficits become more pronounced and severe with age.
