What Is Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NVLD)? By Claire Gillespie Claire Gillespie Claire Gillespie is an experienced health and wellness writer. Her work appears across several publications including SELF, Women’s Health, Health, Vice, Headspace, and The Washington Post. health's editorial guidelines Updated on September 13, 2025 Medically reviewed by Brigid Dwyer, MD Medically reviewed by Brigid Dwyer, MD Brigid Dwyer, MD, is a board-certified neurologist and an assistant professor of Neurology at Boston University. learn more NVLD causes difficulty with motor, social, and visual-spatial skills, but verbal skills often remain strong. You can establish routines and use visual aids to help manage NVLD symptoms effectively.Talking with a therapist can also help if you develop anxiety or depression with NVLD. People with nonverbal learning disorder (NVLD) typically have strong verbal skills but trouble with motor, social, and visual-spatial skills. This nonverbal learning disability causes symptoms like difficulty reading social cues, messy handwriting, and poor coordination. NVLD is not a type of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), although they share similar symptoms. It's not uncommon for learning disorders like NLVD to go undiagnosed until adulthood. Chris Rock can attest to that. The comedian shared he had undergone nine hours of cognitive testing and was diagnosed with NVLD in a 2020 interview with The Hollywood Reporter. It's unclear how many people have NLVD, but some evidence suggests that it affects 3% to 4% of people younger than 18. monkeybusinessimages/Getty Images What Is Nonverbal Learning Disorder? People with NVLD generally have verbal strengths and difficulty with visual-spatial, motor, and social skills. NVLD causes trouble with concepts and relationships, unlike other learning disorders that involve language. You might, for example, overanalyze details and miss the big picture. Healthcare providers often diagnose NVLD later than attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), ASD, and dyslexia. Diagnosis usually occurs during "late elementary school or middle school," David Dinklage, PhD, a psychologist based in Massachusetts, told Health. "I think it is often undiagnosed, and the child is viewed as just an oddball, or quirky and clumsy," said Dinklage. "The ubiquity of video game playing, especially with boys, can help hide the social problems. I think that the missed cases are often never diagnosed." Is NVLD a Form of Autism? NVLD is not a form of ASD, although it shares similar symptoms. People on the autism spectrum may have difficulty communicating and socializing. ASD, unlike NVLD, also causes symptoms like: Developmental delaysGreat interest in specific facts and detailsRepetitive behaviors (e.g., repeating certain words and phrases)Trouble communicating Is It Related to ADHD? NVLD may look similar to ADHD. Both learning disorders cause symptoms like trouble with focusing, paying attention, and staying organized. ADHD, however, might cause difficulty with self-control, excessive fidgeting, moving, and talking when it's not appropriate. Signs and Symptoms of NVLD Signs and symptoms of NVLD may include trouble with: Attention and focusFine motor skills (e.g., holding a pencil, tying shoelaces, and using scissors)Gross motor skills (e.g., riding a bike and playing sports)MultitaskingNew situationsReading comprehension and math skillsReading social cues and nonverbal expressionsSpatial awareness Those signs and symptoms are often mild. Some people might write them off as part of a person's personality or even as other learning disabilities. Of note: The "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition" (DSM-V) does not define NVLD. People with NVLD also have a higher risk of anxiety than others, said Dinklage: "Their detail-oriented processing is similar to the way people with severe anxiety process details over and over, missing the bigger picture." How Many People Have NVLD? It's not exactly known how many people have NVLD. A study published in analyzed a cross-sectional study of 2,596 people in North America. The researchers estimated that 2.2 million to 2.9 million children and adolescents have NVLD, which amounts to 3% to 4% of people younger than 18. Causes The exact cause of NVLD is unknown. A study published in 2016 found that people with NVLD are likelier to have interhemispheric asymmetry than others. Interhemispheric asymmetry means that the two sides of your brain are not equal in function, shape, or size. The left side of your brain controls verbal skills. In contrast, the right side of your brain is responsible for nonverbal skills, such as attention, memory, and problem-solving. People with NVLD might have deficits in the right side of their brain. Managing and Treating Nonverbal Learning Disorder It's important to take a big-picture approach when treating NVLD. This treatment approach may include: Establishing routines: People with NVLD may have trouble making inferences, managing transitions and new situations, and solving word problems, said Dinklage. Establishing a routine in a predictable setting can help.Developing problem-solving strategies: Using physical objects like cubes, for example, can make math concepts more concrete. Teachers may provide examples that use detailed language of how to solve word problems.Limiting distractions: Getting rid of stimuli can help you focus on the task at hand.Using a keyboard: Fine motor planning and handwriting can be very difficult, so using a keyboard may help.Utilizing visual aids: A graphic organizer, such as a concept map or flow chart, can help comprehend readings.Working on group social skills: This training is "hard but necessary" if NVLD is diagnosed during childhood, said Dinklage. It's essential for the child to have regular supervised or mediated play time with one other child. Social skills training can be effective for adults with NVLD, although it's often harder for adults than children. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), or talk therapy, can help manage anxiety and depression that may result from social difficulty and isolation, Sean Paul, MD, founder of NowPsych, told Health. Read more: Health Conditions A-Z Neurological Disorders Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit 10 Sources Health.com uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Semrud-Clikeman M, Fine JG, Bledsoe J. Comparison among children with children with autism spectrum disorder, nonverbal learning disorder and typically developing children on measures of executive functioning. J Autism Dev Disord. 2014;44(2):331-342. doi:10.1007/s10803-013-1871-2 The Hollywood Reporter. "This is the best part I've ever had": Chris Rock talks 'Fargo,' aging and why he’s spending 7 hours a week in therapy. Margolis AE, Broitman J, Davis JM, et al. Estimated prevalence of nonverbal learning disability among north american children and adolescents. JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(4):e202551. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.2551 National Institute of Mental Health. Autism spectrum disorder. National Institute of Mental Health. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. NVLD Project. What is non-verbal learning disability? Wajnsztejn AB, Bianco B, Barbosa CP. Prevalence of inter-hemispheric asymetry in children and adolescents with interdisciplinary diagnosis of non-verbal learning disorder. Einstein (Sao Paulo). 2016;14(4):494-500. doi:10.1590/S1679-45082016AO3722 American Psychological Association. Hemispheric asymmetry. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Right hemisphere brain damage (RHD). NVLD Project. Interventions that can help children/students with NVLD.