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The association between the right hemisphere of the brain and nonverbal learning disabilities: Do you know how brain structure affects learning ability?
Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NVLD) is a proposed neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by core deficits in nonverbal skills, particularly visual-spatial processing. People with this disorder typically have normal or above-normal verbal intelligence but significantly reduced nonverbal intelligence. A review of relevant research showed that there is inconsistency in the diagnostic criteria for this disorder.
Diagnostic criteria for nonverbal learning disabilities include normal verbal intelligence and deficits in visual-constructive ability, speech prosody, fine motor coordination, mathematical reasoning, visuospatial memory, and social skills.
NVLD is not recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) and has no essential clinical difference from learning disabilities. Symptoms of NVLD may overlap with those of autism, bipolar disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), leading some researchers to believe that in some cases a diagnosis of nonverbal learning disorder is more appropriate.
Signs and symptoms
Nonverbal learning disabilities are believed to have a neurobiological basis and are characterized by:
- Disorders of visual-spatial processing
- Significant differences between verbal and non-verbal abilities
- Such as deficits in visual construction, fine motor coordination, and mathematical reasoning
- Deficits in social-emotional skills
People with NVLD may have difficulty understanding graphs, reading maps, doing puzzles, and telling time using an analog clock. Additionally, deficits in motor coordination are particularly common in children with NVLD, making it take longer for them to learn to tie their shoes or ride a bicycle than for the general population. In the early days of school, these children struggle with tasks that require eye-hand coordination, such as coloring and using scissors, but tend to excel in language memory, spelling, and reading.
Causes and Diagnosis
Research suggests that an imbalance in neural activity related to the white matter in the right hemisphere of the brain may be a contributing factor to NVLD. Additionally, many diagnoses overlap with NVLD, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism (especially high-functioning autism), bipolar disorder, etc.
Historical Background Although various nonverbal learning problems have been recognized in early childhood neurology research, the concept of NVLD and a valid diagnostic framework remain controversial. As early as 1967, the terms "non-verbal disorders" and "non-verbal learning disorders" were proposed, emphasizing that they are mainly manifested in visual cognitive processing and social perception. Subsequent research, particularly by neuropsychologist Byron Rooker, led to attempts to describe and study NVLD in detail as a distinct syndrome.Some clinicians and researchers believe that nonverbal learning disorder and autism may be the same condition and that some ADHD diagnoses may be better classified as NVLD.
Continuing Challenges and Future Outlook
Although NVLD has been studied to some extent, many unanswered questions remain regarding how to frame the perceptual, cognitive, and motor issues associated with nonverbal learning disabilities.
In the face of these challenges, how can parents and educators help children with NVLD so that they can better adapt and develop in society?
