A theory: How NVLD could cause a type of autism

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Good day earthlings and aliens,

Over the past few days I've thought of an interesting theory. Could nonverbal learning disabilities be the causal factor behind some people's autism?

First, I am going to assume that autism is simply a grouping of symptoms and behaviours that often go together. A number of different structural abnormalities in the brain may all lead to the same outcome, which is meeting the criteria for an ASD.

From what I have heard, NVLD is the result of a right-brain deficiency. The right side is used for a variety of tasks, such as reading comprehension and higher forms of math, especially mathematical word problems. It also controls fine and gross motor skills, and visual-spatial awareness.

Behaviourally, resistance to change (and a fear of new situations), lack of common sense, fear of new situations, concrete, literal, and focused thinking while missing the bigger picture, and difficulty in social situations are all traits associated with a nonverbal learning disorder.

Because the left brain is not affected, language skills are at least average. [Here's more NVLD info]

Hmmmm..... this profile does sound awfully similar to the old Asperger's criteria. To be fair, I would not be surprised if some people with NVLD manage to fit the new autism criteria, at least at some point in their lives. In fact, Psychology Today goes so far as to say that Asperger's and NVLD may be the same condition, just viewed in different ways. Furthermore, I've read that a severe form of NVLD is very difficult to distinguish from Asperger's, unless you also look at academic abilities. Finally, 80% of people with Asperger's also meet the criteria for NVLD. Interesting coincidence...

To conclude my theory: I do not believe that NVLD is the cause of all forms of autism. In fact I'd be surprised if it's the cause of "classic autism". Nonetheless, I do believe that NLVD can cause sufficient autistic traits to result in said diagnosis, and that it's a common cause of what used to be called Asperger's syndrome.

I have classic autism. I don't think NVLD causes a type of autism. It just mimics it.

I feel like NVLD and Asperger's are interconnected.

But has nothing to do with classic autism.

I definitely see it. I view autism as you do - as an "umbrella term" that applies to a group of neurological/developmental problems with similar traits but different causes rather than a single condition with varying levels of severity. I'm not sure which interpretation is more common among professionals - or autistics, for that matter. It would be an interesting poll on WP, if it hasn't already been done.

Anyway, I agree that NVLD is a perfect example of a condition that fits under that "umbrella." Certainly, anyone with the disorder automatically falls within the autism criteria - they tick all the right boxes, as you note. The only difference is that NVLD's traits manifest in more specific contexts and their causes are better understood. Aspergers in particular is a part of the spectrum that's hard to separate from NVLD, not only where behaviors/traits are concerned but in terms of underlying cognitive abnormalities. The most notable example would be that Aspergers is strongly associated with a VIQ > PIQ gap in intelligence - the defining characteristic of NVLD. Personally, I really favor the theory that Aspergers and NVLD are one and the same condition. There's just too much overlap to treat them differently, unless one could prove that they have different causes that necessitate different approaches in therapy. Otherwise, there's no practical reason to make a distinction between them.

With that conclusion, it makes sense to argue that NVLD can cause autism. Plenty of people are diagnosed with autism before NVLD and vice versa, after all. Many do argue that when a more specific label exists, it should be regarded as separate from autism, even if it falls within the spectrum's criteria. That is, anyone to whom the NVLD label can be applied should be excluded from the spectrum and their autism diagnosis considered a "mislabeling." But diagnostic trends are actually moving in the opposite direction. The spectrum has broadened considerably and no longer discriminates between different manifestations of the traits (PDD-NOS, Aspergers, etc). A few people have even started to argue that some forms of ADHD should be included under the autism label. It really wouldn't surprise me if NVLD was eventually added to the list of spectrum disorders. All that is only diagnostic semantics, though. Anyone with NVLD clearly falls under the "autism umbrella." So if we stick to the "multiple-causes" interpretation of autism, your theory is hard to doubt.

I've always thought NVLD was more applicable to me than ASD. However it's hardly known about in the UK .

http://simonbaruchcurriculum.pbworks.co ... lities.pdf mentions some subtypes .

A combination of b and c fits me best .

I believe that what's called NVLD in North America is often known as dyspraxia in the UK:

https://dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk/

@AceOfPens: I have found some info with respect to "umbrella term" on this site in a few old threads, such as these three examples, but there hasn't been a poll made on this topic yet, so I guess I can be the first to do so.

My main objection with the broadening of the ASD label is that it makes it less useful. Someone whose autistic traits originate from NVLD will have different needs than one whose traits arise from sensory over-sensitivity. Furthermore, I read a report from Universite de Montreal, where the author cites similar concerns to mine.

EDIT: Here's someone with Asperger's on The Guardian who also finds this overly expansive autism definition worrisome.

EDIT_2: Spectrum news is also somewhat concerned. People with what used to be called Asperger's do need support -- I don't deny it. What might make the most sense in this case is to rename Asperger's to NVLD (or whatever else you want to call it), and keep that diagnosis off the autism spectrum. I might be biased, but whatever I have (Asperger's/NVLD or both) seems to me more like a learning disability than a severely life-limiting condition.

^ Mention of Thomas Clements here .

@Glflegolas

That would be great - the old threads seem fairly divided on the issue. It's interesting, though, that most members are pretty attached to the label of "autism," one way or the other. Some don't want conditions like Aspergers to be absorbed by the ASD label for fear that this would cause "fringe" cases to lose their spectrum diagnosis. Others favor the idea that more conditions that have high comorbidity rates like ADHD could be absorbed and create a more "complex" or "individual-based" understanding of the disorder. Overall, members seem to agree that the more people who qualify for a diagnosis, the better.

I agree with you; the more specific the diagnostic label, the more useful it is for professionals and sufferers alike. The Universite de Montreal article makes a really strong point in its last paragraph. I've been anxious about how the broadness of the category has been affecting how autism is studied, assuming that severe, moderate, and mild autism are grouped together by researchers as the article implies. The sociological effects of the label's vagueness is bad enough, but if it's actually hurting efforts to understand the disorder and find treatments, I can't see any justification for it.

It seems to me that the broadening trend isn't going to stop anytime soon, however. Even now, when the spectrum is as broad as it's ever been, people consistently complain about being excluded from it, claiming that there are ever more ambiguous manifestations that deserve inclusion. I oppose those efforts in general, but at the same time, I know that it's a sensitive topic. People with autism and/or NVLD (I'm in both camps as far as labels go) definitely need support, as well as those whose symptoms cause distress without profound impairment. I think the common fear that separating these conditions from the autism label will somehow reduce how seriously they're regarded isn't entirely baseless, but we can't cling to the label at the expense of people with more classical forms of autism (whose traits profoundly affect their lives). It also makes more sense to separate them from a sociological/awareness standpoint. Laymen have always struggled with the idea of the spectrum, and rightly so. A label that fails to provide even a general indication of a person's disability is pretty much impossible to create awareness around. There's really very little benefit to maintaining the broad criteria.

The identification of specific conditions that fall within the criteria and their consequent exclusion from the spectrum would do a lot to improve the meaningfulness of the label. Granted, the resulting "satellite" conditions might end up facing problems with over-expansion, too. But it would be a step in the right direction.

I guess since the publication of the DSM 5 the 'lumpers' have been in the ascendancy