Understanding Non-Verbal Learning Disorder (NVLD)

Non-Verbal Learning Disorder Treatment and Therapy in Toronto

What is Non-Verbal Learning Disorder?

NVLD is a disorder related to the understanding of information, including relationships, concepts, ideas, patterns; nonverbal communications. It is not an inability to speak, in fact these individuals tend to have advanced verbal skills and are talkative. Fortunately, there are many effective virtual and in-person treatments and therapies in Toronto that can help children manage the symptoms of NVLD.

What are Common Symptoms of Non-Verbal Learning Disorder?

Children with NVLD may show the following symptoms:

• Good verbal skills and tend to have great vocabulary (i.e. speaks like an “adult” from a young age)

• Good reading and memory skills

• Difficulty with social skills and abstract thinking

• Difficulty picking up on nonverbal social cues

• Difficulty identifying sarcasm, jokes, subtleties (i.e. tone of voice)

• Difficulty with mathematics, reading comprehension

• Difficulty with physical coordination and visual-spatial awareness (i.e. difficulty perceiving personal spaces)

• Difficulty adjusting to new situations/changes

Children tend to face challenges in 5 main areas, however, NVLD presents itself differently in each individual, and varies along a spectrum of severity. Children may not show challenges in all 5 areas, and display various combinations of symptoms.

1. Visual and spatial awareness:

   • Trouble understanding visual imagery (i.e. if asked to copy a picture and draw a cube, they produce distortions)

   • Difficulty with coordination and fine/gross motor skills; perceiving distances (i.e. may have trouble using scissors, or tying shoes)

2. Higher-order comprehension:

   • Difficulty identifying the main idea in something, details supporting, and relationships amongst them – affects their ability to comprehend reading, writing, or telling story

3. Social communication:

   • Difficulty reading emotion in facial cues and body language (i.e. non-verbal cues)

4. Math concepts:

   • Very good at learning patterns (doing the same math equations multiple times) and able to do well in math by memorizing data

   • May struggle to solve more advanced problems based on concepts and patterns

5. Executive functions:

   • May struggle breaking down project into smaller pieces, organizing, time-management, and prioritizing when given multiple tasks

How to Support Children with Non-Verbal Learning Disorder?

• For schedule/instructions:

  • Post a schedule, rules/expectations where child can easily see them and inform the child of any changes in advance. Also provide child with a laminated copy of their schedule

  • Learns better by hearing information rather than seeing it – allow for “thinking out loud” (i.e. provide opportunity to read instruction aloud)

  • Provide options of how to complete work to find what is the best fit for each individual child (i.e. can complete an assignment verbally instead of handwriting)

  • Address child’s excessive questions by explaining there is time to answer a specific number of questions (i.e. 3) and they can ask more later, while reassuring that all of their questions will be answered

• For emotional/social skills:

  • Use social stories and social scripting to help them make friends – provide the child with exact words to use when approaching new people, joining a group, or any social interaction

  • Provide movement breaks, fidgets when necessary or proactively

  • Teach relaxation skills and help child identify the moments where they would most need to use them – create a plan with the child about what to do if they feel overwhelmed

Non-Verbal Learning Disorder Support for Families

For individuals and families in Toronto struggling with NVLD, there are a variety of in-person and virtual treatments that may be beneficial, including:

• Integrated programs and groups for kids that focus on behaviour and self-regulation

• Social skills training

• Emotional regulation training

• Cognitive behavioural therapy

• Dialectical behavioural therapy

• Non-verbal learning disorder parent training in behavioural management for kids

• Online non-verbal learning disorder programs