Nonverbal Learning Disabilities In Children

Provides an overview of Asperger's Syndrome and nonverbal learning disorders, offers advice to parents on how to recognize the symptoms of the disorders, and suggests intervention strategies for addressing deficits in visual and spatial functioning, organizational skills, and information processing.

"This book is a comprehensive reference source for emerging research in the identification, diagnosis, and intervention of nonverbal learning disabilities, featuring in-depth coverage on a variety of topics relating to intact nonverbal skills, Nonverbal Learning Disability indicators, disability manifestation, and the dilemmas faced by caregivers and professionals"--

This book explores the problems children with NLD may face, and provides strategies for parents to help them cope and grow, from preschool age through their challenging adolescent years. The author provides solutions to the everyday challenges of the disorder, from early warning signs and self-care issues to social skills and personal safety.

Increasing numbers of children and adolescents are being diagnosed with nonverbal learning disabilities (NLD), yet clinicians and educators have few scientific resources to guide assessment and intervention. This book presents up-to-date knowledge on the nature of NLD and how to differentiate it from DSM-5 disorders such as autism spectrum disorder and developmental coordination disorder. Effective strategies for helping K-12 students and their families address the challenges of NLD in and outside of the classroom are illustrated with vivid case material. The authors thoughtfully consider controversies surrounding NLD, discuss why the diagnosis is not included in the current DSM and ICD classification systems, and identify important directions for future research.

This unique volume explores issues related to working with children who have nonverbal learning disability (NVLD). It examines how a child’s psychology – thoughts, feelings, beliefs – affects his or her functioning and learning. In addition, the book addresses how a child’s experiences are processed through individual personality, psychology, culture, environment and economic circumstances, and family dynamics. Using these psychological organizing principles, the book describes how to work most effectively with young patients with NVLD. It offers a new model and definition for understanding NVLD, emphasizing its core deficit of visual-spatial processing. In addition, this book addresses efforts to rename NVLD to developmental visual-spatial disorder (DVSD). It describes the 11 possible subtypes as including a primary deficit in visual-spatial processes and impairment in several additional functional domains, including executive functioning, social/emotional deficits, academic achievement, and motor coordination. The book highlights the need for psychologically minded treatment and provides specific intervention guidelines. It details how to conduct the intake process and create a treatment plan and team and offers practical suggestions for working with a patient’s family members. In addition, the book addresses the importance of working with a consistent psychological theory, such as control mastery theory (CMT). It describes the Brooklyn Learning Center Model for treating NVLD and offers guidelines for interventions to support patients academically. The book provides a comprehensive approach to the neuropsychological assessment of NVLD as well as examples of visual-spatial, sensory perception, executive functioning, academics, social/emotional deficits and motor coordination interventions, and all forms used to gather information from patients. Key areas of coverage include: Definition of nonverbal learning disability (NVLD). Efforts toward inclusion in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) and for renaming it to a developmental visual-spatial disorder (DVSD) Guide to general diagnostic testing and assessment. Developing a treatment plan and team for NVLD patients. NVLD therapy and tutoring priorities. NVLD and Developmental Visual-Spatial Disorder in Children is an essential reference for clinicians, therapists, and other professionals as well as researchers, professors, and graduate students in school and clinical child psychology, special education, speech-language therapy, developmental psychology, pediatrics, social work as well as all interrelated disciplines.

This essential book offers an accessible, evidence-based guide to Nonverbal Learning Disability (NVLD) informed by the most current research, and clinical and educational practice. It provides a thorough explanation of the science behind the condition, alongside ideas, support, and practical tips for managing the everyday challenges of the disorder at school and in family life. Mammarella, Cardillo, and Broitman describe the main characteristics of the condition from both theoretical and practical points of view, as well as examining the similarities and differences between NVLD and other neurodevelopmental disorders. They explore the cognitive and academic weaknesses and strengths of children with NVLD, and the emotional and social difficulties they may experience. The book also provides a systematic review of scientific studies in this field whilst focusing on issues of diagnostic criteria, as well as assessment and intervention strategies. Practical examples are given for teachers and parents to help support children with NVLD in improving their visuospatial and motor skills, as well as peer-social relations, and in promoting the child’s individual abilities. Understanding Nonverbal Learning Disability is essential reading for parents and practitioners in clinical and educational psychology, and health and social care, and students in these fields.

Although it has yet to be recognized by the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), nonverbal learning disabilities (NVLD) in children are a growing concern. NVLD are receiving increased attention from researchers as well as from clinicians encountering these conditions in their young clients. At the same time, reliable information on effective interventions for NVLD has lagged behind this interest. Nonverbal Learning Disabilities in Children: Bridging the Gap Between Science and Practice offers a well-rounded understanding of NVLD, placing it within the context of other developmental disorders, most notably high-functioning autism and Asperger’s syndrome. The most current genetic, environmental, and neurobiological theories of and research into the causes of NVLD (e.g., the “white matter model”), in-depth diagnostic methods, and quality interventions are examined. Using an evidence-based approach, this groundbreaking volume: Conceptualizes NVLD as a disorder with subtypes. Differentiates between diagnostic criteria for NVLD and Asperger’s Syndrome. Analyzes the co-occurrence of NVLD with other developmental disabilities and psychological disorders. Provides a comprehensive psychoeducational assessment model. Describes efficacious treatments and supports their empirical validation. Offers guidelines for sustaining treatment gains through effective collaboration of school personnel and family members. Nonverbal Learning Disabilities in Children is a must-have reference for researchers, practitioners, and graduate students in school and clinical child psychology, education, speech-language therapy, and other disciplines and professions involved in identifying and treating children with NVLD.

The effects of nonverbal learning disabilities on a child's social and emotional development. A nonverbal learning disability (NLD) is a developmental disorder that impairs a person's capacity to perceive, express, and understand nonverbal (nonlinguistic) signs. The dysfunctions affect behaviors, social interactions, perceptions and feelings regarding oneself and others, and emerging personality patterns. NLD constrains an individual's capacity to function in a wide variety of domains, including the academic, social, emotional, and vocational. Parents and clinicians often have difficulty understanding and helping children and adolescents who are simultaneously cherished and whose functioning is hampered by the condition. Based on current neurobehavioral research, this book brings together perspectives drawn from the three major domains of knowledge about NLD—neurobehavioral, social, and intrapersonal. From the neurobehavioral perspective, Palombo provides a research-based phenomenological description of the NLD child's symptoms. From the social perspective, he presents the child's social context and how that contributes (in positive and negative ways) to the child's skills and deficits. From the intrapersonal perspective, he introduces the concept of mindsharing as basic to understand the development of the sense of self in children with NLD. In Part I, readers are introduced to NLD as it presents in the clinic with a review of the etiology and symptomatology of the syndrome reflected in a case study. The author then goes on to describe the neurobehavioral profile of NLD (including its psychological and social dimensions). In Part II the social perspective and intrapersonal aspect of NLD are considered. Palombo describes the impact of the syndrome on social functioning, social communication, and emotional functioning. At the close of this part, readers find a clear articulation of the four NLD subtypes. The intrapersonal area is addressed in Part III where Palombo presents the concept of mindsharing—i.e., the ability of one person to both know and feel what another person is experiencing. Because they lack a capacity for mindsharing, children and adolescents affected by the syndrome often fail not only a social and emotional connection with others but also experience a lack of cohesion in their own sense of self. Finally, in Part IV, Palombo presents a therapeutic approach to working with youth with NLD. Drawing together the various clinical insights from earlier in the book, these last chapters synthesize the material and highlight the most important aspects so as to best guide the treatment of children and adolescents. Addressed to clinicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, and other psychotherapists, this book is a fund of knowledge and clinical wisdom for working with youth with NLD. It offers an overarching paradigm relevant to all professionals and parents alike as they care for effected children and adolescents.