Signs & Symptoms of NLD
Nonverbal learning disabilities (NLD) impact one’s ability to manipulate, integrate and learn from nonverbal information. Kids with NLD have trouble understanding the “big picture.” They may also have problems with reading comprehension, math, and implied meaning. Because social interaction relies heavily on the exchange of nonverbal cues, children with NLD are often socially awkward. They may be adept with language and verbal reasoning, making their disabilities less obvious to detect. NLD often does not surface until middle or high school.
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Is this your child?
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Despite the name of this disorder, those who have NLD are far from nonverbal. In fact, verbal skills are their greatest assets-what they often lack is the ability to moderate or modulate these skills. Children with NLD have difficulty understanding cause-and-effect relationships and anticipating the consequences of their actions. They are often overly literal in their interpretation of social cues, missing the nuances others intuitively understand. The same problem often plagues their reading, especially as they move up in school. Comprehension often falls off as they have trouble inferring, interpreting, and reading between the lines of complex assignments.
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StrengthsChildren with NLD typically have good reading skills, often outpacing their peers in elementary school. Because they have excellent verbal memory, they often possess a large store of information and have a well-developed vocabulary. They tend to learn best via listening. Not all children with NLD display the same mix of assets and deficits. However, suspect NLD if your child has a combination of several of these learning behaviors: Assets:
Deficits:
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