Nonverbal Learning Disabilities
Nonverbal Learning Disabilities
Nonverbal learning disabilities: Overview
Nonverbal learning disabilities are also known as nonverbal learning disorders. The term was first used in the 1970’s to describe a collection of symptoms found in children who obtained verbal IQ scores which were significantly larger than performance or non-verbal IQ test scores. Nonverbal learning disabilities are disorders of presumed neurological origin resulting from diminished or disordered functioning in the right hemisphere of the brain. The right hemisphere is the area of the brain which processes nonverbal or performance-based information, including visual-spatial, intuitive, organizational, evaluative and holistic input.
Three broad categories of problems are often observed in children and adults with nonverbal learning disabilities: motorist dysfunction (lack of coordination, balance problems and difficulty; visual-spatial disorganization (poor visual spatial analysis, disordered spatial perception, and difficulty with spatial orientation; and poor social cognition (difficulty interpreting non-verbal social cues such as gestures, body language and tone of voice; difficulty adjusting to transitions).
Nonverbal learning disabilities: Characteristics
Some of the common characteristics of nonverbal learning disabilities include, but are not limited to, performance IQ significantly lower than verbal IQ; precocious speech and language development and verbosity at a young age; remarkable rote verbatim memory; precocious reading decoding ability; strong spelling from dictation but poor writing and written work organization; math disability; poor coordination and balance; poor fine motor skills; poor visual-spatial part-to-whole perception; difficulty comprehending novel material; and deficits in social interaction. Since these children are often targeted as being bright and gifted because of their mature vocabulary level and rote motor skills, it is difficult to recognize many of the symptoms.
Nonverbal learning disabilities: Remediation
Children with nonverbal learning disabilities generally suffer in silence. Their condition all too often goes unnoticed. However, parents likely realize early on that something is amiss. As preschoolers, these children probably have difficulty interacting with other children, acquiring self-help skills, are not physically adept, are not adaptable, and have a host of other troublesome problems that are of concern, but not alarming. In all likelihood, the children bump along (figuratively and literally) through their early elementary years, handling the academic demands fairly well, except when their fine motor difficulties get in the way, or they fail to attend to a math symbol calling for addition or subtraction, or some other subtle symptom of their disorder derails them. As these children enter the upper elementary grades or begin middle school, they are left to handle more tasks on their own and things rapidly begin to deteriorate. At LearningRx, we have proven methods that can help children achieve success. Call a local LearningRx center or go to www.learningrx.com.
Nonverbal learning disabilities: Overview
Nonverbal learning disabilities are also known as nonverbal learning disorders. The term was first used in the 1970’s to describe a collection of symptoms found in children who obtained verbal IQ scores which were significantly larger than performance or non-verbal IQ test scores. Nonverbal learning disabilities are disorders of presumed neurological origin resulting from diminished or disordered functioning in the right hemisphere of the brain. The right hemisphere is the area of the brain which processes nonverbal or performance-based information, including visual-spatial, intuitive, organizational, evaluative and holistic input.
Three broad categories of problems are often observed in children and adults with nonverbal learning disabilities: motorist dysfunction (lack of coordination, balance problems and difficulty; visual-spatial disorganization (poor visual spatial analysis, disordered spatial perception, and difficulty with spatial orientation; and poor social cognition (difficulty interpreting non-verbal social cues such as gestures, body language and tone of voice; difficulty adjusting to transitions).
Nonverbal learning disabilities: Characteristics
Some of the common characteristics of nonverbal learning disabilities include, but are not limited to, performance IQ significantly lower than verbal IQ; precocious speech and language development and verbosity at a young age; remarkable rote verbatim memory; precocious reading decoding ability; strong spelling from dictation but poor writing and written work organization; math disability; poor coordination and balance; poor fine motor skills; poor visual-spatial part-to-whole perception; difficulty comprehending novel material; and deficits in social interaction. Since these children are often targeted as being bright and gifted because of their mature vocabulary level and rote motor skills, it is difficult to recognize many of the symptoms.
Nonverbal learning disabilities: Remediation
Children with nonverbal learning disabilities generally suffer in silence. Their condition all too often goes unnoticed. However, parents likely realize early on that something is amiss. As preschoolers, these children probably have difficulty interacting with other children, acquiring self-help skills, are not physically adept, are not adaptable, and have a host of other troublesome problems that are of concern, but not alarming. In all likelihood, the children bump along (figuratively and literally) through their early elementary years, handling the academic demands fairly well, except when their fine motor difficulties get in the way, or they fail to attend to a math symbol calling for addition or subtraction, or some other subtle symptom of their disorder derails them. As these children enter the upper elementary grades or begin middle school, they are left to handle more tasks on their own and things rapidly begin to deteriorate. At LearningRx, we have proven methods that can help children achieve success. Call a local LearningRx center or go to www.learningrx.com.
