October 2006

• The Child Who's Different: A Description of Nonverbal Learning Disorder

NLD: Nonverbal Learning Disorder

You know him. He’s the one that sits at his desk during recess, reading rather than going outside to play ball with his classmates.

She’s the one that makes foolish remarks when she’s with friends. She’ll say something that is exaggerated or irrelevant to the topic at hand.

He’s awkward, always bumping into things.

Her handwriting is illegible and she hates math.

These are children who suffer in school and out. They’re labeled “nerds” or described as “strange.” They try to fit in, but they don’t; worse yet, the more they try, the more they fail. Their self-esteem drops, they feel rejected and lonely, and are at risk for emotional problems.

The cause of their problems is a little-known learning disability called NLD, or Nonverbal Learning Disorder. This disability is often unrecognized because those who have it are usually verbally precocious and are thought to be equally capable in all areas. In turn, parents and educators (who are unacquainted with NLD) don’t understand the reason for their child’s awkwardness or poor performance. They presume that the cause is “laziness” or boredom. Hence, years may pass before these children receive an accurate diagnosis if they do at all.

To learn more about NLD, read the rest of this article online at www.myfamilycoach.com. Click on the "Latest Newsletter" link.

Dr. Mona Spiegel, a licensed psychologist, has worked for many years as a diagnostician and therapist in Rockland County, NY. She founded MyFamilyCoach^TM to provide professional coaching on the telephone for women who want guidance but do not need therapy. She focuses on parent coaching, relationship coaching, and personal coaching. Dr. Spiegel is a member of the International Coach Federation and the American Psychological Association.