Non-verbal Learning Disabilities

[Janice Adamson]

What are Non-Verbal Learning Disabilities?

Non-verbal learning disabilities (NLD) are less well known than language-based learning disabilities such as Dyslexia.

NLD often go undiagnosed because reading ability tends to be regarded as the chief indicator of acedemic well-being in most public school systems. Because it has a pronounced effect on social interaction, as well as acedemic performance, NLD present a unique challenge to parents, teachers and adult consumers.

When people with NLD are assessed, typically, their performance IQ is significantly lower than their verbal IQ, because of visual-spatial awareness.

Typically, people with non-verbal learning disabilities show:

-excellent memory for things they hear
-poor memory for things they see
-good reading ability
-very poor arithmetic ability
-excellent verbal expression and verbal reasoning
-problems with writing and expression (often because of poor handwriting)
-problems with sense of direction, estimation of size, shape, distance
-problems reading facial expressions, gestures, social cues, tones of voice

The chief characteristics of non-verbal learning disabilities include:

-tactile-perceptual deficits, usually on the left side of the body
-coordination difficulties, again often more marked on the left side of the body
-problems with visual-spatial organization
-extreme difficulty adapting to new and complex situations
-reliance on wrote behaviors (which may or may not be appropriate) in new situations
-trouble understanding non-verbal feedback in social situations
-problems with social perception, social judgement and social interaction
-distorted sense of time
-very strong rote verbal abilities (large vocabulary)
-reliance on language as the primary means for social relating, information gathering and relief from anxiety
-difficulties with arethmetic, and later, with scientific concepts and theories
-inattention and hyperactivity earlier in childhood; and social withdrawl and isolation later

[Romersa's Protege]

While this totally describes me, I refuse to see myself as disabled. If education was tailored to each individual child's needs, there'd be less 'learning disabilities'.