What is a non-verbal learning disorder?

A NON-verbal learning disorder (NLD) can impact a child's ability to understand concepts and impact other areas of their development.

But what are some of the other signs and symptoms parents should be on the look out?

What is a non-verbal learning disorder?

NLD is a neurodevelopmental disorder which impacts a person's ability to understand concepts, motor skills, mathematical reasoning and process spatial awareness.

The symptoms of NLD are associated with a difficulty to process all things which are related to the right side of the brain.

Children with NLD could struggle with social interaction, planning, organizing and physical co-ordination.

It affects a child's ability to understand concepts or notice patterns in areas such as language and math.

A person with NLD may be clumsy or awkward because they struggle to grasp spatial awareness.

Often NLD is associated with autism and some researchers believe they are the same condition.

What are the signs and symptoms of non-verbal learning disorder?

A child with NLD may struggle to perform tasks that their peers have already grasped, such as riding a bike or tying shoelaces.

They do not have trouble when it comes to reading or learning information such as facts.

Scott Bezsylko, executive director of Winston Preparatory School, says: “Think of it as the opposite of dyslexia."

Instead, they will show weaknesses around understanding concepts including in patterns, ideas and relationships.

According to , they may have difficulties in any of the five areas below:

• Visual and spatial awareness
• Higher-order comprehension
• Social communication
• Mathematical problem solving
• Executive functions

Visual and spatial awareness means being able to tell where objects are in a space.

Those living with NLD may have an inability to know how close objects are to themselves and others.

Higher-order comprehension is used to see beyond the literal, and looking at more than facts.

Those with NLD have problems with questions, such as analyzing, reasoning and evaluation.

A lack of social communication means an NLD child would not be able to read facial expressions and body language.

A child with these difficulties often focus — sometimes obsessively — on technology.

NLD children are good at rote learning but when it comes to problem solving around mathematics then they will have issues recognizing it.

A lack of executive function means that an NLD child will find it difficult to problem solve.