Nonverbal learning disorder

For the autism condition where a person never learns to speak, see Nonverbal autism.

Nonverbal learning disorder
Other namesDevelopmental visual–spatial disorder,[1] Nonverbal learning difficulties, Nonverbal learning disability
SpecialtyNeurology/psychiatry
FrequencyCurrently unknown, estimated to be around 3%[2]

Nonverbal learning disorder (NVLD or NLD) is a proposed category of neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by core deficits in non-verbal skills, especially visual-spatial processing. People with this condition have normal or advanced verbal intelligence and significantly lower nonverbal intelligence.[3] A review of papers found that proposed diagnostic criteria were inconsistent.[3] Proposed additional diagnostic criteria include intact verbal intelligence, and deficits in the following: visuoconstruction abilities, speech prosody,[4] fine motor coordination, mathematical reasoning, visuospatial memory and social skills.[5][6][7][8] NVLD is not recognised by the DSM-5 and is not clinically distinct from learning disorders.[9]

NVLD symptoms can overlap with symptoms of autism, bipolar disorder, and ADHD. For this reason, some claim a diagnosis of NVLD is more appropriate in some subset of these cases.[4][10]

  1. ^ Broitman, Jessica; Melcher, Miranda; Margolis, Amy; Davis, John M. (2020). NVLD and developmental visual-spatial disorder in children: clinical guide to assessment and treatment. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. ISBN 978-3-030-56107-9.
  2. ^ Margolis, Amy E.; Broitman, Jessica; Davis, John M.; Alexander, Lindsay; Hamilton, Ava; Liao, Zhijie; Banker, Sarah; Thomas, Lauren; Ramphal, Bruce; Salum, Giovanni A.; Merikangas, Kathleen; Goldsmith, Jeff; Paus, Tomas; Keyes, Katherine; Milham, Michael P. (2020). "Estimated Prevalence of Nonverbal Learning Disability Among North American Children and Adolescents". JAMA Network Open. 3 (4): e202551. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.2551. PMC 7148441. PMID 32275324.
  3. ^ a b Fisher, Prudence W.; Reyes-Portillo, Jazmin A.; Riddle, Mark A.; Litwin, Hillary D. (1 February 2022). "Systematic Review: Nonverbal Learning Disability". Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. 61 (2): 159–186. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2021.04.003. ISSN 0890-8567. PMID 33892110. S2CID 233382776.
  4. ^ a b "Does your patient have a psychiatric illness or nonverbal learning disorder?" (PDF). Current Psychiatry.
  5. ^ Mammarella, Irene C.; Cornoldi, Cesare (2014). "An analysis of the criteria used to diagnose children with Nonverbal Learning Disability (NLD)". Child Neuropsychology. 20 (3): 255–280. doi:10.1080/09297049.2013.796920. hdl:11577/2668053. ISSN 0929-7049. PMID 23705673. S2CID 34107811.
  6. ^ Mammarella & Cornoldi 2014, pp. 255–280.
  7. ^ Doty, Nathan (2019). "Nonverbal Learning Disability". The Massachusetts General Hospital Guide to Learning Disabilities: Assessing Learning Needs of Children and Adolescents. H. Kent Wilson, Ellen Braaten. Cham, Switzerland: Humana. ISBN 978-3-319-98643-2. OCLC 1080078884.
  8. ^ Fine, Jodene Goldenring; Semrud-Clikeman, Margaret; Bledsoe, Jesse C.; Musielak, Kayla A. (March 2013). "A critical review of the literature on NLD as a developmental disorder". Child Neuropsychology. 19 (2): 190–223. doi:10.1080/09297049.2011.648923. ISSN 0929-7049. PMID 22385012. S2CID 12655825.
  9. ^ Dupaul, George J.; Gormley, Matthew J.; Laracy, Seth D. (2013). "Comorbidity of LD and ADHD". Journal of Learning Disabilities. 46 (1): 43–51. doi:10.1177/0022219412464351. PMID 23144063. S2CID 206423076.
  10. ^ Doty 2019, pp. 103–106.