How to Help a Child With Nonverbal Learning Disorder

Imagine how life would be if the only way you had of obtaining information through verbal means. Though our society places a high premium on strong verbal skills, we have so many other ways of obtaining and processing new information. We use nonverbal cues such as body language, tone of voice, and facial expressions to determine the meaning of what others are saying. We infer meaning beyond that which is directly stated in the books we read. We generalize learning from one situation and apply it to another, somewhat different situation. Conversely, we understand that what we learned in one situation may not apply in another. We use visual-spatial skills to find our way around and to determine where our bodies are in space. Individuals with Nonverbal Learning Disorder have difficulty with at least some of these things, depending on the severity of their disorder. Children and adolescents with this disorder tend to have academic and social problems, especially as they get older and tasks expected of them become more complex.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Individuals with Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NLD) tend to fear new situations and do well in well-structured, predictable environments. They simply have a much harder time figuring out what to do in such circumstances than the rest of us due to difficulty in generalizing previously learned information. You can help a child with NLD by minimizing transitions and disruptions to the usual routine, but when this isn't possible, warn her of transitions and disruptions in advance. You can also help by letting her know in advance of what to expect and rehearsing her responses to different situations.
2. Do not assume an NLD child understands things just because he has good verbal skills, a good verbal rote memory and an impressive vocabulary. He may take things very literally, as children with NLD often do. Cause and effect relationships, metaphors, multiple meanings, categories and classifications of objects, and part-to-whole relationships all need to be explicitly explained. Simplify and break down abstract concepts.
3. Reduce the academic workload and modify the schedule of the child with NLD as appropriate. Getting through a normal school day is often exhausting for such children. Her difficulties with generalizing previously learned information make it necessary for her to use much more mental energy to accomplish every day task than is true for nondisabled peers. In addition, NLD children tend to be hypersensitive to sensory stimulation, so lights, noises, smells, etc. may bother them more than other kids and thus make them feel more overwhelmed.
4. Give directions verbally and avoid penalizing a child with NLD for tardies. Children with NLD tend to have spatial problems, which can result in getting lost frequently and being tardy to class. Spatial difficulties can also affect map reading, telling time using an analog clock, and math skills. A peer helper may also be able to help him find his way around.
5. Explain how to do math problems in words. These children learn verbally, so watching you do the problem probably won't work. Be sure to state the directions for solving the problem explicitly, as difficulties with making inferences can cause difficulties with word problems in math. Other problems include math that requires spatial skills, such as geometry, or lining up columns correctly, as in long division.
6. Consider reducing the written work required. Difficulties with making connections and abstract reasoning can lead to poorly integrated papers. Furthermore, fine motor problems can lead to poor handwriting, so consider allowing the student to type assignments.
7. Social skills deficits are perhaps the most heartbreaking of deficits typical of NLD kids. They want to fit in, but misread social cues, or miss cues entirely. They need to be specifically taught to read nonverbal communication, such as tone of voice, facial expressions, etc. A friendship group run by a school counselor, social worker, or psychologist may be helpful.

Tips & Warnings

• Children with Nonverbal Learning Disorder may be very bright and do very well in elementary school. They may even be considered gifted. However, when both social and academic tasks become more complex, these kids tend to have much more difficulty.