NLD (& ASDers) are the most misunderstood people on Eart

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Nearly five years old but I have NLD as well and my speech is off a bit. I mumble, am too quiet, am too loud, or I ram my sentences together to where no one can comprehend what I've said at that moment. I did find the woman's video to be a bit offense as it seemed she was making fun of the NLD community.

Semantic/Pragmatic language disorder is NOT the opposite of NLD. In fact many people with NLD have the same problems with the social and practical aspects of language as people with ASD do( prosody and taking things too literally ect). NLD is thought to result from white matter defects and defects of the right cerebral hemisphere. These kind of defects often cause semantic/pragmatic language problems. BTW I have NLD and have severe problems with spatial relations and I also have some semantic/pragmatic language problems.

Also, about the 80% statistic ,does anyone have a source for this? I did a research paper on NLD and the autism spectrum a couple of years ago and some really old data showed that almost all people with ASD had NLD but then subsequent studies refuted that and said that NLD wasn't any more common among people with ASD than in the general population. There might be more recent data. Will someone provide a link to the source and what year it's from please?

That video is such a cruel mockery. I hope it gets removed from youtube.

Note:As someone else said she portrays a problem with diction. I have NLD and I've actually specifically been told that my diction is very good. People with NLD may have semantic/pragmatic problems with speech but not like what she was showing. Someone with NLD could of course have some additional problem (maybe an oral-muscular one) that caused them to speak like that but that's not common in NLD. Do your research, "actress"!

Here's what she says about herself on her page:

" About PRISSY FERBANKS & CO: A ONE WOMAN SHOW

You have stumbled into the world of Prissyferbanks and co. A one woman show of various characters...odd misfits. This channel has become an outlet for moments of inspiration. I do a wide range, so check out more then one vid. I have people who only follow one character (Selma holds first place and I know, a Selma appearance is long overdue)!

Through this endeavor, I have discovered my love of video and I have begun working on other projects outside of comedy. I am very excited about some projects I have in the works, and I will share with the community at large as they develop further. Unfortunately, it has taken time away from my comedic efforts. I wish there were more hours in a day."

There's a bunch of criticism on that video now. I hope she'll rethink this character.

I have NLD and mild autism (or maybe just NLD that pops up on the diagnostic criteria as autism). The OP is very accurate. We are very misunderstood -- and quite mistreated.

What is the worst thing is that, unlike most people with other disabilities, including Asperger's, we look, talk, and act perfectly normal but bump into our difficulties all the time. People expect us to be normal and then are shocked when we aren't and then attribute it to attitude or laziness.

Fortunately, I'm clever and usually avoid being exposed. I can't do most jobs, but that has rarely come up because I avoid normal jobs; I do unusual jobs that most people don't think of. But it's a constant danger and incredibly stressful. It's partly why, I think, I tend to resent humanity in general.

For me, having ASPD traits is a coping mechanism. I have turned into a very reckless, rude, aggressive driver because, for example, I cannot anticipate or process other cars very well, so I often get honked at, which pisses me off. So, it's like....why bother trying to be nice? So I'm an a**hole driver who cuts people off and shows the finger a lot. This problem + attitude transfers into many areas of life besides driving. It stems from NLD.

^^^
Finding a job is really difficult for people with NLD. My motor skill problems (manual dexterity) make learning a lot of skills or trades impossible and my difficulty with spatial relations means higher level math is hard so most computer science/technology jobs are out. Then the remaining jobs seem to require human interaction and my problems understanding social nuances and communicating because of things like gauche body language (NLDers can have the same problems with non-verbal communication as those with ASD) make these jobs nigh impossible to get/maintain. Then the problems with executive functioning (multi-tasking and prioritizing) mean things like office work is out.

One of the few things I can do is take standardized tests, so one option some with NLD can do is SAT or GRE tutoring. You can make good money at that. Otherwise, I did not do very well in the Army Corps of Engineers (what was I thinking? though I didn't have a choice), and I got fired from waiting tables once in college. I've always been quite well employed. Just not in jobs that most people would think of. If anyone is curious, I'd be happy to make a post about staying well-employed when you have NLD, no manual dexterity, and no special skills. It's very possible. I've been independent for 8 years with NLD on the severe side.

So, if I did not have upper middle class genes and ways of thinking, it's highly unlikely I would have ever made it on my own. If you operate with the worldview and approach to things like someone from a working class background typically does (wait tables, major in something medical-related, and work your way through community college), you are going to fail badly when you have NLD.

I always thought manual tasks and stuff were way below me (f*****g gross), and I couldn't dream of having to "work my way through school" doing low-level jobs. So I focused on getting really high standardized test scores, so I could get scholarships to pay for everything (with an average-range IQ--I can't do performance of any sort for shit-- I believe these things are doable for most people). Then luck. It's almost as if I've had rich parents and an easy life, so never had to face hardship head on. But I didn't have either.

I had such an unlucky early childhood, so maybe some of the luck and ease I've enjoyed in my young adult life is due to reverse karma. Not sure if I'm smart, or just lucky, and I'm not sure what I have done is repeatable.

I sure would like to know how you did it. I have been struggling my whole life to stay employed. I finally burnt out after many years in unsuitable work environments.

I'm curious to know too. As said above, all areas of work seem impossible for us.

I believe it is possible to have NLD and maintain employment. It may take planning ahead and thinking about what you like and also can do effectively enough to do the job well. In the past I was told I was smart and did a job well, but the social interaction was what gave me the most trouble. Since I feel socially awkward it is difficult to speak up at work and/or to feel comfortable discussing my feelings and what I want or need at work. I just take it day by day and have come to realize that I do not care to be a manager. It is possible to succeed in the workplace when you have NLD and hang in there.

I have NVLD and currently have a job. Doesn't mean it's not hard to maintain employment and hide my symptoms well enough to get by, nor does it mean that I didn't spend a year-and-a-half looking for said job, but it IS possible to work with NVLD. You have to find a job that focuses on your individual strengths and a supervisor who is understanding of your deficits.

I hate videos like this. People won't take any concern for something until they have it themselves. I have a tic disorder and one of my peeves is people who portray Tourettes as people blurting out swear words and nothing else.