Asperger's vs. Nonverbal Learning Disabilities

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19 Oct 2012, 2:15 am

Reading all of this makes me think that the answer to all of this is simply put: Everybody's different. Nobody is a cookie-cutter. Though I could be wrong.

Moondust
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19 Oct 2012, 2:27 am

Yes, the brain doesn't function in clear-cut ways to accomodate to the set of existing diagnoses. Maybe that's why the new DSM is just calling everything Autism. I just wish there was more support for adults with my sub-set of autistic traits... Currently, in most places in the world, there isn't even the possibility for an adult with NLD to get a diagnosis, let alone social benefits or support. Heck, there isn't even a forum on the web!

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XFilesGeek
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19 Oct 2012, 2:31 am

Moondust wrote:

There's nothing in common between NLD and AS, except the fact that both are socially rejected and (only partly) due to the same traits. The social aspect is so crucial for both that they seem to have a lot in common, when actually many of the traits are actually the very opposite. Examples:

1. Visio-spatial impairment - it's always present in NLD, only present in some AS cases if at all. NLD is the uber-linguistic type and very bad at Engineering skills, while AS is called the Engineers' syndrom. NLD = getting lost, very impaired at sports, big difficulties driving.

2. Social behavior - AS can be inappropriately inexpressive and introverted, while the vast majority of NLDers are inappropriately overly-expressive and extroverted.

3 . Desire for social interaction - NLDers need it and seek it intensely, AS often distance from it or are indifferent.

4. Linguistic abilities above the (NT) norm - typical of NLD, atypical in AS. I have 3 languages at mother tongue level, and another 5 I manage in. I'm a Linguist and some say you can't tell I'm not an English native speaker.

Where in the world did you get this nonsense from??

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19 Oct 2012, 3:42 am

Moondust wrote:

Verdandi, your example is of a different trait, called "taking things literal". I never had a problem with that. You've made me realize that maybe I don't get that many answers because I have to explain more clearly what I mean.

How is taking things literally separate from not perceiving subtext? Subtext is part of the non-literal meaning in communication.

WhoKnowsWhy
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19 Oct 2012, 11:36 pm

It may be true that all individuals with NVLD have Aspergers Syndrome, but not all individuals with Aspergers Syndrome have NVLD. If they did, you wouldn't see any Aspy engineers or computer programmers.

btbnnyr
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19 Oct 2012, 11:49 pm

Why couldn't a person with NVLD be a computer programmer?

WhoKnowsWhy
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20 Oct 2012, 12:08 am

btbnnyr wrote:

Why couldn't a person with NVLD be a computer programmer?

Does it not require math and spatial skills? If am wrong on this, forgive me...I'm not knowledgeable about the field. I pretty much just use the computer to surf the internet.

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20 Oct 2012, 1:45 am

People with aspergers often have learning disabilities. I had an IQ test before however and my non-verbal IQ was higher than my verbal IQ. My non-verbal skills such as visual spacial skills and puzzle skills were rated supeiour though while my verbal skills such as reading and writing were diagnosed as a learning disability. Anyways their not the same thing. Some people will just have both. For me its backwards than you.

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littlelily613
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20 Oct 2012, 2:33 am

I don't know the exact difference off the top of my head, but there is one. Although NVLD is not currently on the spectrum, it might be at some point. While Aspergers and NVLD overlap a great deal, a person can have one but not the the other. I have high-functioning autism, and I do not have NVLD. I think it is dangerous when people use the terms interchangeably, because--while similar--they are not the same. I had a counsellor at university that knew I am autistic, but she kept referring to it as NVLD even though that is not my diagnosis. Some of the methods she was using to help me academically were designed for people with a diagnosis of NVLD and did not apply to me (ie. nvld learn best when listening rather than visually...I am the opposite, and she kept trying to get me to get audio books rather than visual ones. That would make learning much more difficult for me). I finally just said to her that I don't have nvld so those methods don't apply to me.

For the record, I don't have Aspergers, but high-functioning classic autism. NVLD is rarer in people with classic autism of any functioning level than it is in Aspergers. I read a book before that stated that 88% of people with Aspergers also had NVLD (they did not provide statistics for the opposite). So, obviously it is very common for Aspies, but according to their research the two are not identical conditions, otherwise 100% of aspies would qualify for the nvld diagnosis.

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Moondust
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20 Oct 2012, 3:10 am

WhoKnowsWhy wrote:

Moreover, we excel at opposite things (visio-spatial, math / verbal).

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20 Oct 2012, 7:30 am

Moondust wrote:

WhoKnowsWhy wrote:

Moreover, we excel at opposite things (visio-spatial, math / verbal).

**sigh**

No.

That's blatantly untrue.

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20 Oct 2012, 11:17 am

Moondust wrote:

WhoKnowsWhy wrote:

Moreover, we excel at opposite things (visio-spatial, math / verbal).

All I can do is use big words and sound really smart to people.

WhoKnowsWhy
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21 Oct 2012, 12:57 am

1000Knives wrote:

Moondust wrote:

WhoKnowsWhy wrote:

Moreover, we excel at opposite things (visio-spatial, math / verbal).

All I can do is use big words and sound really smart to people.

Yeah, in the current economy at least, you're much better off having the math/spatial skills than having the verbal ones.

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21 Oct 2012, 1:05 am

WhoKnowsWhy wrote:

Yeah, in the current economy at least, you're much better off having the math/spatial skills than having the verbal ones.

Darn! That sucks for me..... :lol:

Moondust
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21 Oct 2012, 1:31 pm

WhoKnowsWhy wrote:

Yeah, in the current economy at least, you're much better off having the math/spatial skills than having the verbal ones.

Indeed, this is one of the biggest differences between NLD and AS. All the things that NLD can do pay very little and/or are often not a secure full-time position (humanities teacher, translator, editing, writer, etc.), whereas the things that many aspies can do (science, math, engineering) can get you jobs that pay well or are full-time positions.

The other big difference is many aspies aren't good at the social thing but they also don't want it, which makes them sometimes seem aloof and keep their dignity that way. NLD are known for wanting friends very much and constantly trying, ridiculously and inevitably putting their foot in their mouth and being rejected.

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21 Oct 2012, 2:07 pm

questor wrote:

Even with the stigma that some seem to attach to spectrum diagnoses, I am still glad that I found out I have Asperger's. I am in my early 50s and spent most of my life dealing with the frustration and stress of not knowing why I was so out of step with the rest of the world. It was a great relief to finally know the answer.

I am in my early 60's and had the identical reaction. Finally it all makes sense and my lifelong search for why I am the way i am is over. My diagnosis of three months made me free to be myself and understand that all my life i was trying to do the impossible: to be an NT. Now I am comfortable with who I am and no longer care what others think. I am so grateful to know at last.

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