Nonverbal Learning Disorder

Nonverbal Learning Disorder – noted as NLD or NVLD, this is a neuropsychological and cognitive profile of individuals dealing with lateralization (differences between right and left hemisphere functioning), whereby the right hemisphere shows significant deficits relative to left hemispheric functioning. Studied extensively by Dr. Bryon Rourke in the 1980’s and 90’s, this neuropsychological or cognitive profile has not been recognized as a separate diagnosis. Individuals with NLD typically have strong verbal abilities including vocabulary, rote memory, and verbal expression, but show weaknesses in nonverbal aspects such as visual-spatial organization, visual memory and perceptual reasoning. They tend to demonstrate motor coordination issues, social skill deficits, executive functioning impairments, and academic weaknesses in mathematics relative to reading skills.