Nonverbal Learning Disorder?

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It is not only extremely obvious that I, also, have such great difficulties with anything visual or spatial, it is glaringly beyond obvious even at a superficial level and even with those who don't know me very well. I simply cannot read maps, it's impossible for me. Graphs, charts, etc., etc., even the simplest ones, fugeddaboutit. The six words I dread the most are "let me draw you a map." I hate having to ask directions (even though I'm a gal and am not supposed to mind!) because they'll always say that.

When I say I can't read maps, they'll say "oh, it's a real simple one, it won't be any trouble." But, to my brain, there IS no such thing as a "simple" map. I always tell people to tell me verbally, and I'll be just fine. I'm used to it by now, but sometimes I do get really tired of it all and would give anything for a "normal" brain for just one freaking day. Or even one hour!! ! What really makes me nuts is that I simply cannot receive more than one direction at a time, and it takes me awhile longer to process instructions and directions than it normally would most people. That's caused no end of problems with jobs, ALL jobs I've ever had.

OTOH, I can remember verbatim what someone said on a certain occasion, no matter how long ago it was, even twenty, thirty or more years (I'm 42). I never needed to take notes in college because I could always remember everything that was said, no matter how long or complex the lecture (unless they used @#$%#^ maps, charts, graphs, grrrrrrr!! !! !! !! !). I can write circles around the best writers; writing, of ANY kind, has always been my absolute greatest strength. That includes creative writing. I drove my high school English teachers crazy because I never needed to "brainstorm" or do first drafts, the way they were trying to teach the rest of the class to do. They never knew what to make of me because, on the one hand, I was, and remain, practically ret*d in so many nonverbal areas; on the other hand, I was so way ahead of everyone else verbally, especially written. That's still true with most people today.

that describes me.

i sued to doodle for notes in college and i can look at my notes and remember what was being said

i was always on academic teams in school.... only for writing...

i got a 5.5 out of 6 for writing on my GREs (SATs for gradschool).

That's just what's confusing - I can read maps, in fact telling me verbally would be no good at all - I need to see it on a map! Without one I have no sense of direction whatsoever.

On the other hand, I have practically no fine motor skills with my hands, plus I cannot translate between a 2D image & a 3D object.

e.g. it has always been a complete mystery to me how people can do things like dressmaking - how does a pattern turn into a garment, how do people seem to just know where to put nips & tucks in, etc.

Also writing knitting patterns - how on earth do you know how many of each stitch to do to make something?

So I definitely have some kind of impairment when it comes to practical things. (Also when I do differentiated IQ tests, my spatial awareness score is like a D or E when everything else - maths, language, all of it - is A's & B's).