If you are coming here from our "Understanding YOUR Child's Learning Challenges" quiz to learn more about your child’s areas of concern, WELCOME!
Now that you've taken our brief quiz, below is a detailed checklist that will help you confirm if the area identified by the quiz is a significant concern.
If you notice these signs, you may want to consider using the information as we guide you through the steps of requesting an initial evaluation from the school
If you haven't yet taken our quiz
What is a Nonverbal Learning Disability (NVLD)
As a parent, noticing that your child struggles with social cues, organization, or visual-spatial tasks can be concerning. These challenges might point toward a Nonverbal Learning Disability (NVLD). Although NVLD is no longer an official diagnosis, neuropsychologists and educators still use the term to describe a specific set of characteristics that affect some individuals.
Imagine a child navigating the world as if it were an intricate maze full of twists and turns. For kids with Nonverbal Learning Disability (NVLD), understanding social cues, reading body language, or interpreting facial expressions can feel like a complex puzzle. Children with NVLD often excel in verbal tasks but struggle with visual-spatial ones, such as reading maps or understanding graphs. Navigating physical spaces, like a crowded playground, can also be challenging. Kids with NVLD struggle to read between the lines in social interactions, making it hard for them to understand jokes, sarcasm, or the emotions of others. However, with the proper support and strategies, children with NVLD can better understand their environment and build meaningful connections with their peers.
Note: While NVLD is not an official diagnosis, the difficulties associated with it are very real and can significantly impact learning, social interaction, and daily functioning.
To help you visualize, better understand, and perhaps relate to NVLD and its associated challenges, we've chosen the chameleon as a symbol for children with this learning disability.
Why we chose a chameleon to describe these students:
Picture a child navigating the world like a chameleon, constantly needing to be aware of their surroundings to fit in. Unlike the chameleon that blends in seamlessly, kids with NVLD often struggle to fit in socially and need structured support to help them connect with peers and navigate their social landscapes.
Characteristics of Nonverbal Learning Disability (NVLD): A Parent's Checklist
We've compiled this list of NVLD characteristics as a checklist to help you identify if your child might have a Nonverbal Learning Disability (NVLD). It outlines common traits of children with NVLD and provides real-life examples to illustrate these challenges. Recognizing these signs early can lead to effective strategies that improve social skills, academic performance, and overall well-being.
Does your child have...?
Difficulty Understanding Social Cues:
Finds it hard to understand facial expressions, body language, or gestures, making it challenging to know how others are feeling.
Example: Sarah struggles to tell when her friend is upset because she doesn't notice the subtle changes in her friend's facial expressions or body language.
Trouble with Sarcasm or Jokes:
Struggles to understand sarcasm, jokes, or figurative language, often taking things too literally.
Example: John takes jokes literally and doesn't understand when his classmates are sarcastic, often responding seriously to sarcastic remarks.
Poor Coordination:
Has difficulty with tasks that require coordination, like sports or dancing, and may seem clumsy or uncoordinated.
Example: David finds catching a ball during recess challenging and often trips over his feet while playing sports.
Difficulty with Visual-Spatial Skills:
Finds it challenging to read maps, follow directions, or understand spatial relationships, like how objects fit together in space.
Example: Emily gets lost easily when following a map or directions and finds it hard to understand spatial relationships between landmarks.
Trouble with Organization and Planning:
Struggles to organize tasks, manage time, or plan ahead, often feeling overwhelmed by complex tasks or schedules.
Example: Michael struggles to complete long-term assignments because he has trouble breaking them down into smaller tasks and organizing his time effectively.
Difficulty with Math Concepts:
Has trouble understanding math concepts, such as counting money or telling time, and may struggle with basic arithmetic.
Example: Alex has trouble understanding fractions in math class and often confuses addition and subtraction operations.
Weakness in Written Expression:
Finds it challenging to express ideas in writing, often having trouble with spelling, grammar, or organizing thoughts on paper.
Example: Emma's writing is disorganized and difficult to read, with frequent spelling and grammar errors and unclear ideas.
Limited Problem-Solving Skills:
Has difficulty solving problems independently or coming up with solutions to challenges, especially when faced with unfamiliar situations.
Example: Jason becomes overwhelmed when faced with a problem he hasn't encountered before and struggles to come up with solutions on his own.
Difficulty Making Friends:
Struggles to make and maintain friendships, often misinterpreting social cues or having trouble joining group activities.
Example: Lily has trouble joining group activities at recess and often sits alone, feeling left out because she doesn't know how to approach her classmates.
The characteristics of NVLD can vary from person to person, and not everyone with NVLD will experience all of them. Recognizing these signs can help identify and support individuals with NVLD in
developing strategies to improve their social skills and succeed in school and other activities.
If several of these signs resonate with you and are causing significant distress for your child, consider discussing them with your child's teacher or a healthcare professional. This checklist can be an essential first step in recognizing the signs of NVLD and seeking the appropriate support for your child.
If you think your child may have NVLD and they are struggling in school, and you're not sure what to do next, reach out to us at My Happy Teacher to learn more about how we can help.
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