Running head: Assignment 6.

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Assignment 6.1 Signature Assignment

Nonverbal Learning Disability
Stephanie Wagerer
Fresno Pacific University

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Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NVLD) is a disability that affects the ability to understand
and process nonverbal information. The disorder might seem like a misnomer but NVLD does
not affect a childs ability to speak or write, what it does affect is how children perceive nonverbal cues, facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice. Children with NVLD tend to
talk a lot, but they dont always share in a socially appropriate way. Or they might not relay the
most important information. (Patino, 2014)
In day to day interactions with people, especially talking face to face with somebody,
there are visual cues that add to conversations and allow people to pick up on the unspoken
elements of a conversation. These cues can range from body posture, facial expressions, tone of
voice, and gestures. People with NVLD have difficulty observing and understanding these cues,
causing them to talk about inappropriate things, laugh at inappropriate times, or to misunderstand
playful teasing. NVLD also affects childrens reading, writing, and spoken language and while
they have good verbal skills, they struggle with larger concepts and think in literal terms, missing
abstract information.
NVLD is a disorder that is difficult to pin down just by itself and is often a comorbid
disorder paired with other disabilities, most commonly Aspergers syndrome, language disorders,
and ADHD. In studies done, up to 80 percent of children with Aspergers also have NVLD
related symptoms. (Patino, 2014) Though the disorder is being studied, it is not a disorder that is
classified in the DSM-5 and it is not enough of a diagnosis to be covered by IDEA for services. If
a child has other learning disabilities which interfere with their education progress, they may be
eligible for special education services.

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People who have nonverbal learning disabilities often have poor social skills, face
bullying by peers, and can struggle with a number of subjects including mathematics, reading
comprehension, writing, and physical coordination. A list of common symptoms include messy
handwriting, remembering specific information but not why it is important, invading personal
space, changing subjects abruptly in conversation, being oblivious to peoples reactions. Family
and friends may view people with NVLD as odd or immature and teachers can see children as
defiant, inattentive, or flighty. The most common skills that are affected by the disorders are
conceptual, motor, visual-spatial, and social skills as well as abstract thinking.
The disorder is difficult to perceive in many people and leads to conflicts in the home and
classrooms. Younger children may seem bright and precocious, often with comments about their
excellent verbal skills. However, as children get older they are more aware of their differences as
they realize that they perform differently than their peers but dont know how to solve the
problem. Undiagnosed NVLD can lead to anxiety which, in turn, can lead to compulsions,
withdrawal, and emotional disturbances. Parents and educators, therefore, need to understand the
specifics of their childrens disabilities in order to help them learn in a way that is meaningful to
them.
Many children with NVLD are prescribed medications that help their comorbid disorders
such as ADHD or Aspergers. However, medicinal therapy is not the only method for meeting the
childs needs. In school, an IEP can be beneficial to address short term goals in order to help the
child begin to identify social cues, understand nonverbal emotions and body language, and to
address the areas that the child struggles with through occupational therapy, accommodations in
the classroom, and modified curriculum that teaches to the childs level rather than grade.
Primary to learning is to teach the child sequentially and use the childs verbal strengths to

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compensate whenever possible. (Little, 1999) Children with NVLD are prone to getting hurt as
a result of their visual-spatial problems. Uncluttered environments, constant supervision on
playground equipment, and safety equipment for recreational play can reduce injuries from falls
or bumps.
As most parents of children know, repetition is necessary during the first few years of a
childs life. Children learn through constant reenforcement of daily routines, rules, and
experiences. The child with nonverbal learning disabilities needs extra reenforcement, but in
specific ways. There are five keys to parenting children with NVLD. Anticipate, understand,
plan, be consistent, and reinforce. (Eckerd, n.d.) Children will often exhibit inflexibility and
parents need to develop strategies that can ease their children into transitions such as agreeing on
rules, communicating needs directly, and previewing transitions.
Instruction needs to be verbal and sequential and repetitive for children with NVLD.
Parents and teachers cannot rely on body language or facial expressions with children as those
cues may go unnoticed or misinterpreted. Parents and teachers need to be aware that
victimization and exploitation of children is high and need to take steps to minimize problems
before they arise. Talking to children about social situations, describing behavior and
expectations as well as typical responses are also helpful in aiding the childs ability to
understand and comprehend their settings. For parents, frustrations can run high when parenting
their children. Repetition of information, directions, and problem solving techniques can be
tiring and seem frustrating. Parents often worry over their children and grow tired of having to
repeat the information needed for their child to understand. It is easy to get angry at children with
NVLD at times but therapy and parenting classes can help parents develop proper coping
mechanisms as well as strategies to reduce stress and anxiety in the home as well as the learning

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environment. In the classroom, lessons can be repeated orally as well as recorded, children can
use keyboards to type notes or use pencils with thicker lead to avoid breakage from pressured
writing, and lessons can be adapted and modified to address the childs actual level of
comprehension. Due to the fact that children struggle in the area of mathematics, word problems
can be broken down into smaller steps or eliminated from their task work. Physical education can
also be adapted to provide core skills and development of spatial awareness as well as balance
and motor coordination.
Learning disabilities are not relegated only to North America, they are experienced by
children and adults all over the world. Each country has its own methods for addressing learning
disabilities within the school setting. Its difficult to find information regarding NVLD in other
countries but Australia has begun identifying nonverbal learning disorders and how to address
them in the education system.
Much like North America, the Australian school system provides education for all
children and has focused on providing special education services through mainstream education.
Children with special needs and their parents meet with the administrators of a school during a
consultation and accommodations and/or modifications are made based on the childs individual
needs. Regular meetings and records are kept to ensure that the childs needs are being met
though each state has its own education program and there are small differences between each
one. (angloinfo.com)
With regards to nonverbal learning disabilities, there are few movies that feature that
specific LD. Many movies that feature learning disabilities couch them in terms of stupidity such
as Dumb and Dumber starring Jim Carrey or in the confines of autism. There are two movies that

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are noteworthy although they are both about autistic people. The first is a 2010 HBO special
entitled Temple Grandin and it stars Claire Danes as Temple. It is the biographical tale of how
Temple was diagnosed with autism and, through therapy and help at school, was able to graduate
from college with an advanced degree and became a pioneer in the humane treatment of
livestock on ranches and slaughterhouses. I chose this movie because many people with NVLD
also have autism and both disorders made picking up social cues and non verbal communication
difficult, leading to socially awkward situations.
The next movie I chose is called The Boy Who Could Fly. Made in 1986, its a story of a
young girl who befriends a young boy who is autistic. Throughout the course of the movie the
young protagonist, Milly, begins to suspect that her new neighbor, Eric, can fly. At the end of the
movie he proves her theory correct and flies away to protect himself.
The last movie is Martian Child starring John Cusack and Bobby Coleman. Though its
never stated that Bobbys character, Dennis, has a learning disability, he is a young socially
awkward boy who hides away in a box and states that he is from Mars. He refuses to leave the
comfort of his box and Johns character David tries to understand the young boy whom he has
adopted. Slowly the pair learn about each other and, with the help of family, are able to find
someone who understands them and loves them unequivocally. I chose this movie as it addresses
several symptoms of learning disabilities such as withdrawal, social awkwardness, and inability
to understand social cues.

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References

The boy who could fly [Video file]. (1986). Retrieved June 26, 2016.
Temple Grandin [Video file]. (2010). Retrieved June 26, 2016.
Special Needs. (n.d.). Retrieved June 26, 2016, from
https://www.angloinfo.com/australia/how-to/page/australia-family-schoolingeducation-special-needs

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UK (England) - Special needs education within the education system. (n.d.). Retrieved June 26,
2016, from https://www.european-agency.org/country-information/unitedkingdom-

england/national-overview/special-needs-education-within-the-education-

system
Little, L., PsyD, RN. (1999, September). The Misunderstood Child: The Child With a Nonverbal
Learning Disorder. Retrieved June 25, 2016, from http://www.iag-online.org/resources/
New-Items-2e/Misunderstood-Child--NLD.pdf
Meyjes, M. (Director), Kirschner, D., Sienega, C., & Elbert, E. (Producers), & Bass, S. E., &
Tolins, J. (Writers). (n.d.). Martian child [Video file].
Patino, E. (2014). Understanding Nonverbal Learning Disabilities. Retrieved June 25, 2016,
from https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learningdisabilities/

nonverbal-learning-disabilities/understanding-nonverbal-learning-

disabilities
M. E., Ph.D. (n.d.). Strategies for Parenting a Child with NLD | Smart Kids. Retrieved June 26,
2016, from http://www.smartkidswithld.org/getting-help/nld/strategies-forparenting-a-

child-with-nld/