The purpose of this chapter is to inform practitioners in the teaching, medical, and allied health professions about the complex and serious nature of a nonverbal learning disability (NLD) so that early identification and intervention may prevent mental health issues. Children and young adults with an NLD face many difficulties not experienced by those with a language-based learning disability. Difficulty handling routine daily tasks and responsibilities on a consistent basis can threaten personal and economic independence, and a supportive network of friends may become harder to sustain over time. Involvement with community activities may also be limited. The author seeks to engage the reader with what is an enigma for some—the NLD profile. Discussion includes the origin of the disability, the physical presentation of the profile, differences between NLD and other commonly diagnosed learning disabilities, and possible consequences if the NLD is not identified early and managed.
Estimated Prevalence of Nonverbal Learning Disability Among North American Children and Adolescents
