Gus Walz Has Nonverbal Learning Disorder. What Is That?

Children with nonverbal learning disorder (NVLD) experience difficulties with visual-spatial processing, affecting their motor skills. This can lead to challenges with tasks such as respecting personal space, tying shoelaces, using utensils like spoons, forks, and knives, and handwriting. While children with NVLD often have a good vocabulary and can memorize math facts, as they continue in school, they may face hardship in pattern recognition, reading comprehension, and applying mathematical concepts. They may also appear disorganized and face difficulties in planning projects involving multiple steps. Additionally, they may have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Socially, individuals with NVLD may seem awkward or unpleasant because they are likely to ask many questions due to difficulty interpreting facial expressions, body language, and other nonverbal cues. This can make it hard for them to form friendships. NVLD does not affect intelligence, and individuals can learn strategies to help manage their challenges. Some techniques include chunking problems into smaller parts and using “scripts” to help them through unfamiliar situations.