NVLD: On the Spectrum or not?

Post Reply New Topic

Back in 2011, after years of suspecting I had certain traits that were outside the mainstream, I was diagnosed with multiple learning disabilities. For DSM-IV purposes, I was diagnosed with dylscalculia and learning disorder NOS in order to get university services for my handwriting and math disabilities. The report states I have many features of a non-verbal learning disablity, such as poor, labourious handwriting, difficulty with math, trouble with social skills, poor working memory, etc.

I still remain confused if NVLD is considered by anybody to be on the Spectrum. I understand what I have is not Asperger's Syndrome, but I still deal with many of the same features. Just wondering what the general opinions of my fellow WPers is?

They say most aspies have NLVD too. I don't think so. They say NLD is the same as AS, just diagnosed by educators while AS tends to be diagnosed by Psychiatrists, etc.

I have both, I think, but NLVD is a lot more pronounced than AS in me. My AS doesn't cause me any day to day disabilites, while the NLD does, a lot. Yet I was diagnosed with AS and NLD never even came up. Which I prefer, because there's no assistance for adults with NLD by Social Security.

My opinion is that it is highly overlapping and in many cases it is possible also dx Asperger's or PDD-NOS.
Very often it is seen as a specific PDD-NOS.

I did ask my evaluator if she did consider me autistic in any way and she said no. In her opinion, the lack of an all encompassing special interest and the fact my social skills had rapidly improved in adulthood were the indicators NVLD is the more likely diagnosis.

There's no uniform approach. Much of the literature claims that there is a marked decline in social abilities in NLD in adulthood, and mention the high rate of suicide around age 50 for this reason.

My social skills also improved dramatically in adulthood and I'm not even close to NVLD.

There are allways different opinions how to dx and so on. The human brain can't be devided into specific sectors or diagnostic areas. This is not possible, so the opinions differ hugly even under experts on how to dx right and where one diagnosis starts and the other ends and so on.

Autism Network International has a name for this situation. "Cousin". In other words, you aren't technically on the spectrum, but you struggle in ways that are similar to those who are.

I don't consider NVLD to be on the autism spectrum.

I am not into putting all kinds of different disorders like NVLD, ADHD, and SID on the autism spectrum.

That's a good way to think about it. Some people can have both though.....they aren't mutually exclusive....but if you have one you don't necessarily have the other.

Wouldn't the autism explain the non-verbal learning disability, though?

Or, to be more blunt, is there an actual need for a separate diagnosis?

There is a need because NVLD involves specific learning problems that are not necessarily associated with ASD the most notable being problems with spatial relations (things like reading maps, learning geometry, drawing charts and graphs, interpreting graphs, directions and finding your way around ect). So if there is a kid with severe social/communication problems and an all -encompassing preoccupation (interest) or constant stereotypical repetitive behaviours and severe learning problems with spatial relations (but with strong vocab , rote memory etc) than she needs both diagnoses because the NVLD alone accounts for her problems in math and reading maps ect. her learning disability and the ASD alone accounts for the interests or repetitive behaviours (since this is not a part of NVLD). They do overlap a lot though (with the social problems including difficulty with non-verbal communication and theory of mind) but they're not exactly the same.

You can think of it as light Asperger, as most Aspies are NVLD.

NVLD is 2.5% of the population, though perhaps only 0.5% point is inside the spectrum.
Most ASD and AS individuals should have much more severe issues.

Though many NVLD non ASD individuals should be quite similar in many ways to Aspies that are quite functioning, or close to the diagnostic limit.

Last edited by mrsmith on 21 Oct 2012, 11:42 am, edited 1 time in total.

My kids' neurologist only sees kids with neurodevelopmental disorders. He is well respected and a published author. He believes NVLD is not the same as AS, but he does believe that it falls on the same spectrum as AS, ASD, ADHD, TS, etc. He thinks all of those things are part of the same "spectrum" of issues when you look at them on a neurological level. He told me that if I were to poll his peers, most would have the same opinion, even though it isn't officially recognized. I do not know if he means all of his peers, or those who he strongly identifies with.

I have a friend who is a university professor and who has TS. Highly knowledgeable about this area. She shares his beliefs.

So, yes, there are people out there who think NVLD does belong on a broader spectrum. My son has NVLD and I will tell you I believe they are related. Just as I can see that my daughter, who has an ASD diagnosis is similar to AS, I can tell that my son, who has an NVLD and ADHD diagnosis, is similar to AS.

I have spoken with some people who seem almost pathologically opposed to calling things "autism," so they are very comfortable with saying NVLD is not on the spectrum. But I think that is due to their own personal issues and a desire to not want to tell someone their kid is on the spectrum. But when pressed, they cannot exactly explain who these two diagnoses are separate enough to say they are not related. There is at least as much overlap between NVLD and AS as there is between AS and classical autism.

At any rate, many of the things that help people with AS also help people with NVLD, so this is a good place to be.

I'm NVLD and Asperger's. It's possible to be both.

yes it is...they aren't mutually exclusive.....I have both diagnoses too. If one has learning problems such as being poor at math, bad with spatial visual relations ect. and severe difficulties with social skills and social communication AND has repetitive behaviours and or obsessive interests than they would have both.

Social and social communication problems are similar in ASD and NVLD...they are just more severe in ASD. Stimming and special interests and extreme rigid routines are specific to ASD, and the learning problems with spatial relations are specific to NVLD.

I consider NVLD to be an "autistic cousin". ADHD and sensory processing disorder are too.

Themselves they are not on the autistic spectrum. They share more traits and can relate more to people on the autistic spectrum than other disorders can, and they are possible comorbids.