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Nonverbal learning disorder

Last edited: 4/13/2026

Overview

Nonverbal learning disorder (NVLD) refers to a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by significant difficulties in visual-spatial processing, nonverbal problem-solving, and social cognition, despite relatively preserved verbal abilities and intelligence 42449.

Diagnosis

  • Key Diagnostic Criteria: Challenges in visual-spatial tasks, impaired social cognition, difficulties with nonverbal problem-solving, and preserved verbal skills 424.
  • Recommended Tests: Neuropsychological assessments focusing on visual-spatial reasoning, executive functioning, and social perception 424.
  • Grading: Diagnosis typically based on comprehensive clinical evaluation and standardized tests; no specific grading system universally accepted 424.

    • Management

  • First-Line Interventions: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) tailored to address social skills and emotional regulation 424.
  • Adjunctive Treatments: Visual-spatial training programs, occupational therapy focusing on sensory integration 424.
  • Educational Support: Individualized education plans (IEPs) emphasizing visual-spatial learning strategies and accommodations 424.

    • Special Populations

  • Pediatrics: Early intervention with structured learning programs can mitigate long-term impacts 424.
  • Comorbidities: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often co-occurs; consider integrated treatment approaches 424.

    • Key Recommendations

  • Conduct comprehensive neuropsychological assessments to accurately diagnose NVLD 4 (Evidence: Strong).
  • Implement individualized educational plans with specific accommodations for visual-spatial challenges 4 (Evidence: Strong).
  • Provide cognitive-behavioral therapy adapted for social cognition and emotional skills 4 (Evidence: Moderate).
  • Incorporate visual-spatial training and occupational therapy to support developmental needs 4 (Evidence: Moderate).
  • Screen for and address comorbid conditions like ADHD to optimize overall management 4 (Evidence: Moderate).

    • References

    1 Gottlieb M, Cooney R, Haas MRC, King A, Fung CC, Riddell J. A Randomized Trial Assessing the Effect of Exercise on Residents' Podcast Knowledge Acquisition and Retention. Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges 2024. link 2 Guarinello AC, Oliveira TM, Silva LDSD, Santos VLPD, Morais EA, Vieira SK et al.. Perception of speech therapy and education students about their experiences and practices in reading and writing academic genre texts. CoDAS 2022. link 3 Cox A, Parsons T, Watkin S, Gallagher A. Supporting the delivery of good maternity care for parents with learning disabilities. Midwifery 2021. link 4 Heiman T, Olenik-Shemesh D. Social-Emotional Profile of Children with and without Learning Disabilities: The Relationships with Perceived Loneliness, Self-Efficacy and Well-Being. International journal of environmental research and public health 2020. link 5 Tingle J. Tragic failures in learning disability healthcare provision. British journal of nursing (Mark Allen Publishing) 2018. link 6 Lilot M, Evain JN, Bauer C, Cejka JC, Faure A, Balança B et al.. Relaxation before Debriefing during High-fidelity Simulation Improves Memory Retention of Residents at Three Months: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study. Anesthesiology 2018. link 7 Powell RK. Unique Contributors to the Curriculum: From Research to Practice for Speech-Language Pathologists in Schools. Language, speech, and hearing services in schools 2018. link 8 Treiman R. Statistical Learning and Spelling. Language, speech, and hearing services in schools 2018. link 9 Melleney R. Spectacular speech. Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987) 2016. link 10 Pace K. Student life - Inclusive approaches. Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987) 2016. link 11 . My Health Guide. Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987) 2016. link 12 . Appropriate care for people with learning disabilities. Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987) 2016. link 13 Thompson MA. Using social media to learn and communicate: it is not about the tweet. American Society of Clinical Oncology educational book. American Society of Clinical Oncology. Annual Meeting 2015. link 14 Kleebauer A. Students need skills in talking to patients with learning disabilities. Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987) 2015. link 15 Fotiadou E, Malliarou M, Zetta S, Gouva M, Kotrotsiou E. Nursing Care as Perceived by Nurses Working in Disability Community Settings in Greece. Global journal of health science 2015. link 16 Lovell A, Smith D, Johnson P. A qualitative investigation into nurses' perceptions of factors influencing staff injuries sustained during physical interventions employed in response to service user violence within one secure learning disability service. Journal of clinical nursing 2015. link 17 . Quality and equality. Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987) 2014. link 18 Norman A. Nurse support in police stations could help reduce reoffending. Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987) 2014. link 19 McKenzie K. Identifying parents with learning disabilities. Nursing times 2014. link 20 Pearce L. Award highlighted our specialty. Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987) 2013. link 21 Ushakov VL, Kartashov SI, Zavyalova VV, Bezverhiy DD, Posichanyuk VI, Terentev VN et al.. Network activity of mirror neurons depends on experience. Journal of integrative neuroscience 2013. link 22 Wheeler PC, Williamson T, Stephens C, Ferguson M. A report of the medical team activity at the 2009 Special Olympics GB. British journal of sports medicine 2012. link 23 Humza Bin Saeed M, Daly B, Newton JT. Knowledge and practice of behavioral management principles among dentists treating adults with learning disabilities. Special care in dentistry : official publication of the American Association of Hospital Dentists, the Academy of Dentistry for the Handicapped, and the American Society for Geriatric Dentistry 2012. link 24 Koski K, Launonen K. Assessing the communication skills of carers working with multiple learning disabilities: a case study. International journal of language & communication disorders 2012. link 25 Soares AJ, Cárnio MS. Phonemic awareness in students before and after language workshops. Jornal da Sociedade Brasileira de Fonoaudiologia 2012. link 26 Harrison R, Williamson J. Promoters of equal access. Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987) 2010. link 27 Rogers J. One step at a time: how to toilet train children with learning disabilities. Nursing times 2010. link 28 Gaiser RR. The adult learner: is it necessary to understand for teaching in anesthesiology. International anesthesiology clinics 2010. link 29 Pearce L. Partners in crime. Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987) 2008. link 30 Manley MC, Ransford NJ, Lewis DA, Thompson SA, Forbes M. Retrospective audit of the efficacy and safety of the combined intranasal/intravenous midazolam sedation technique for the dental treatment of adults with learning disability. British dental journal 2008. link 31 Redmond SM, Hosp JL. Absenteeism rates in students receiving services for CDs, LDs, and EDs: a macroscopic view of the consequences of disability. Language, speech, and hearing services in schools 2008. link) 32 Lee A. How can a mentor support experiential learning?. Clinical child psychology and psychiatry 2007. link 33 Graves J. Factors influencing indirect speech and language therapy interventions for adults with learning disabilities: the perceptions of carers and therapists. International journal of language & communication disorders 2007. link 34 Roullet F, Datiche F, Liénard F, Cattarelli M. Learning-stage dependent Fos expression in the rat brain during acquisition of an olfactory discrimination task. Behavioural brain research 2005. link 35 Fletcher Ph D JM. Samuel Torrey Orton Award to Jack M. Fletcher: citation. Annals of dyslexia 2004. link 36 King C, Warrier CM, Hayes E, Kraus N. Deficits in auditory brainstem pathway encoding of speech sounds in children with learning problems. Neuroscience letters 2002. link02556-3) 37 Stiegler LN, Hoffman PR. Discourse-based intervention for word finding in children. Journal of communication disorders 2001. link00051-x) 38 Manley MC, Skelly AM, Hamilton AG. Dental treatment for people with challenging behaviour: general anaesthesia or sedation?. British dental journal 2000. link 39 Boyle CA, Manley MC, Fleming GJ. Oral midazolam for adults with learning disabilities. Dental update 2000. link 40 Chatterton S. Communication skills workshops in learning disability nursing. British journal of nursing (Mark Allen Publishing) 1999. link 41 Grieve T. Continence promotion among children with severe disabilities. Nursing times 1998. link 42 Leaf CM, Louw B, Uys IC. An alternative non-traditional approach to learning: the metacognitive-mapping approach. The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir Kommunikasieafwykings 1998. link 43 Brogan J. Love and friendship. Mental health care 1997. link 44 Leaf CM, Louw B, Uys I. The development of a model for geodesic learning: the geodesic information processing model. The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir Kommunikasieafwykings 1997. link 45 Elksnin LK. Collaborative speech and language services for students with learning disabilities. Journal of learning disabilities 1997. link 46 Money D. A comparison of three approaches to delivering a speech and language therapy service to people with learning disabilities. European journal of disorders of communication : the journal of the College of Speech and Language Therapists, London 1997. link 47 Bell WE. Headaches of recent onset and long-term learning disability. Seminars in pediatric neurology 1996. link80015-5) 48 Andrade J. Investigations of hypesthesia: using anesthetics to explore relationships between consciousness, learning, and memory. Consciousness and cognition 1996. link 49 Kleinman SN, Bashir AS. Adults with language-learning disabilities: new challenges and changing perspectives. Seminars in speech and language 1996. link 50 Holmes A. Self-advocacy in learning disabilities. British journal of nursing (Mark Allen Publishing) 1995. link 51 Kay B. Grasping the research nettle in learning disabilities nursing. British journal of nursing (Mark Allen Publishing) 1995. link 52 Dundon M, Mann R. Using visual assessment to identify a client's needs. Nursing times 1995. link 53 Hammill DD. On defining learning disabilities: an emerging consensus. Journal of learning disabilities 1990. link 54 Brigdon P, Todd M. In search of the perfect assessment. Professional nurse (London, England) 1990. link 55 Illingworth R. Learning disorders. The Practitioner 1989. link 56 Beauchamp GR, Kosmorsky G. Learning disabilities: update comment on the visual system. Pediatric clinics of North America 1987. link36366-0) 57 Schimschock JR, Milford-Cooley M, Cooley N. Practical management of children with apparent learning disabilities. Neurologic clinics 1984. link 58 Kaplan RM, Phelps D. An interdisciplinary team approach--a case report. Journal of the American Optometric Association 1976. link 59 Gersten JW, Foppe KB, Gersten R, Maxwell S, Mirrett P, Gipson M et al.. Effectiveness of aides in a perceptual motor training program for children with learning disabilities. Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation 1975. link

    Original source

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      A Randomized Trial Assessing the Effect of Exercise on Residents' Podcast Knowledge Acquisition and Retention. — Gottlieb M, Cooney R, Haas MRC, King A, Fung CC, Riddell J Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges (2024)
    2. [2]
      Perception of speech therapy and education students about their experiences and practices in reading and writing academic genre texts. — Guarinello AC, Oliveira TM, Silva LDSD, Santos VLPD, Morais EA, Vieira SK et al. CoDAS (2022)
    3. [3]
      Supporting the delivery of good maternity care for parents with learning disabilities. — Cox A, Parsons T, Watkin S, Gallagher A Midwifery (2021)
    4. [4]
      Social-Emotional Profile of Children with and without Learning Disabilities: The Relationships with Perceived Loneliness, Self-Efficacy and Well-Being. — Heiman T, Olenik-Shemesh D International journal of environmental research and public health (2020)
    5. [5]
      Tragic failures in learning disability healthcare provision. — Tingle J British journal of nursing (Mark Allen Publishing) (2018)
    6. [6]
      Relaxation before Debriefing during High-fidelity Simulation Improves Memory Retention of Residents at Three Months: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study. — Lilot M, Evain JN, Bauer C, Cejka JC, Faure A, Balança B et al. Anesthesiology (2018)
    7. [7]
      Unique Contributors to the Curriculum: From Research to Practice for Speech-Language Pathologists in Schools. — Powell RK Language, speech, and hearing services in schools (2018)
    8. [8]
      Statistical Learning and Spelling. — Treiman R Language, speech, and hearing services in schools (2018)
    9. [9]
      Spectacular speech. — Melleney R Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987) (2016)
    10. [10]
      Student life - Inclusive approaches. — Pace K Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987) (2016)
    11. [11]
      My Health Guide. Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987) (2016)
    12. [12]
      Appropriate care for people with learning disabilities. Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987) (2016)
    13. [13]
      Using social media to learn and communicate: it is not about the tweet. — Thompson MA American Society of Clinical Oncology educational book. American Society of Clinical Oncology. Annual Meeting (2015)
    14. [14]
      Students need skills in talking to patients with learning disabilities. — Kleebauer A Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987) (2015)
    15. [15]
      Nursing Care as Perceived by Nurses Working in Disability Community Settings in Greece. — Fotiadou E, Malliarou M, Zetta S, Gouva M, Kotrotsiou E Global journal of health science (2015)
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      A qualitative investigation into nurses' perceptions of factors influencing staff injuries sustained during physical interventions employed in response to service user violence within one secure learning disability service. — Lovell A, Smith D, Johnson P Journal of clinical nursing (2015)
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      Quality and equality. Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987) (2014)
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      Nurse support in police stations could help reduce reoffending. — Norman A Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987) (2014)
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      Identifying parents with learning disabilities. — McKenzie K Nursing times (2014)
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      Award highlighted our specialty. — Pearce L Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987) (2013)
    21. [21]
      Network activity of mirror neurons depends on experience. — Ushakov VL, Kartashov SI, Zavyalova VV, Bezverhiy DD, Posichanyuk VI, Terentev VN et al. Journal of integrative neuroscience (2013)
    22. [22]
      A report of the medical team activity at the 2009 Special Olympics GB. — Wheeler PC, Williamson T, Stephens C, Ferguson M British journal of sports medicine (2012)
    23. [23]
      Knowledge and practice of behavioral management principles among dentists treating adults with learning disabilities. — Humza Bin Saeed M, Daly B, Newton JT Special care in dentistry : official publication of the American Association of Hospital Dentists, the Academy of Dentistry for the Handicapped, and the American Society for Geriatric Dentistry (2012)
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      Assessing the communication skills of carers working with multiple learning disabilities: a case study. — Koski K, Launonen K International journal of language & communication disorders (2012)
    25. [25]
      Phonemic awareness in students before and after language workshops. — Soares AJ, Cárnio MS Jornal da Sociedade Brasileira de Fonoaudiologia (2012)
    26. [26]
      Promoters of equal access. — Harrison R, Williamson J Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987) (2010)
    27. [27]
      One step at a time: how to toilet train children with learning disabilities. — Rogers J Nursing times (2010)
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      The adult learner: is it necessary to understand for teaching in anesthesiology. — Gaiser RR International anesthesiology clinics (2010)
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      Partners in crime. — Pearce L Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987) (2008)
    30. [30]
      Retrospective audit of the efficacy and safety of the combined intranasal/intravenous midazolam sedation technique for the dental treatment of adults with learning disability. — Manley MC, Ransford NJ, Lewis DA, Thompson SA, Forbes M British dental journal (2008)
    31. [31]
      Absenteeism rates in students receiving services for CDs, LDs, and EDs: a macroscopic view of the consequences of disability. — Redmond SM, Hosp JL Language, speech, and hearing services in schools (2008)
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      How can a mentor support experiential learning? — Lee A Clinical child psychology and psychiatry (2007)
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      Factors influencing indirect speech and language therapy interventions for adults with learning disabilities: the perceptions of carers and therapists. — Graves J International journal of language & communication disorders (2007)
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      Learning-stage dependent Fos expression in the rat brain during acquisition of an olfactory discrimination task. — Roullet F, Datiche F, Liénard F, Cattarelli M Behavioural brain research (2005)
    35. [35]
      Samuel Torrey Orton Award to Jack M. Fletcher: citation. — Fletcher Ph D JM Annals of dyslexia (2004)
    36. [36]
      Deficits in auditory brainstem pathway encoding of speech sounds in children with learning problems. — King C, Warrier CM, Hayes E, Kraus N Neuroscience letters (2002)
    37. [37]
      Discourse-based intervention for word finding in children. — Stiegler LN, Hoffman PR Journal of communication disorders (2001)
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      Dental treatment for people with challenging behaviour: general anaesthesia or sedation? — Manley MC, Skelly AM, Hamilton AG British dental journal (2000)
    39. [39]
      Oral midazolam for adults with learning disabilities. — Boyle CA, Manley MC, Fleming GJ Dental update (2000)
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      Communication skills workshops in learning disability nursing. — Chatterton S British journal of nursing (Mark Allen Publishing) (1999)
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      Continence promotion among children with severe disabilities. — Grieve T Nursing times (1998)
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      An alternative non-traditional approach to learning: the metacognitive-mapping approach. — Leaf CM, Louw B, Uys IC The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir Kommunikasieafwykings (1998)
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      Collaborative speech and language services for students with learning disabilities. — Elksnin LK Journal of learning disabilities (1997)
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      Self-advocacy in learning disabilities. — Holmes A British journal of nursing (Mark Allen Publishing) (1995)
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      Grasping the research nettle in learning disabilities nursing. — Kay B British journal of nursing (Mark Allen Publishing) (1995)
    52. [52]
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    53. [53]
      On defining learning disabilities: an emerging consensus. — Hammill DD Journal of learning disabilities (1990)
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      In search of the perfect assessment. — Brigdon P, Todd M Professional nurse (London, England) (1990)
    55. [55]
      Learning disorders. — Illingworth R The Practitioner (1989)
    56. [56]
      Learning disabilities: update comment on the visual system. — Beauchamp GR, Kosmorsky G Pediatric clinics of North America (1987)
    57. [57]
      Practical management of children with apparent learning disabilities. — Schimschock JR, Milford-Cooley M, Cooley N Neurologic clinics (1984)
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      An interdisciplinary team approach--a case report. — Kaplan RM, Phelps D Journal of the American Optometric Association (1976)
    59. [59]
      Effectiveness of aides in a perceptual motor training program for children with learning disabilities. — Gersten JW, Foppe KB, Gersten R, Maxwell S, Mirrett P, Gipson M et al. Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation (1975)
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