Asperger's Syndrome the Same as Nonverbal Learning Disorder

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Here is an interesting academic paper which argues that nonverbal learning disorder, dyslogia, semantic pragmatic disorder, etc. are basically alternate, or related, designations for Asperger's. (Other researchers have made similar arguments.) In effect, the writers are suggesting that they are Asperger's seen from different perspectives and, sometimes, fields:

http://apt.rcpsych.org/cgi/content/full/7/4/310

Thanks for that as my son was disgnosed with non verbal learning and they said crosses over into aspergers!

So not surprising was a little confussed, so ask Tony Attwood for his view:

Hi Tony
A few people have ask me this and not 100% on answer, would be great full if you could help. "Is Non Verbal Learning Disorder on the Autism Spectrum or not!"
Regards Alyson
.
Dear Alyson
Thanks for the message: Non Verbal Learning Disorder has many characteristics similar to Asperger's syndrome, however, it is not in the official diagnostic text book namely the Diagnostical and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Some of the practical strategies used for Non Verbal Learning Disorder are appropriate for those with Asperger's syndrome and vice versa.
Best Wishes TonyAttwood (Jan.08)

I know it's wrong, but something amuses me about semantic pragmatic disorder.. it sounds innocuous enough.

nominalist - I am (somewhat) familiar with what the article you linked is stating - nothing novel. I will not reiterate.

However, as many (most?) inhabitants of WP know, I am virtually non-verbal, at times mute. I am technically a high-functioning autistic, by Dx. I am a chemist and currently in the PhD program, shifting into the neurosciences. Just being objective, not assigning any value judgements, I am 'gifted,' by 'their' definition (IQ = 160+). Irrelevant, actually. I am 100% autistic, regardless.

Anyway: My quetion. I have no Sylvian Fissure. Nominalist, this is certainly correlated with HFA, but the relationship is undefined. Any ideas? I am a bit reticent to reveal this, but I am curious. I have an extraordinarily high genetic propensity to autism as well.

Why?

Here is more comparing Asperger's with non-verbal learning disorder:

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/c ... /5/S2/1458

When I was 15 my doctor suspected I either had NVLD or AS (I was officially Dx'd with AS a year later). When I asked what the distinction was he said that it had to do with verbal thinking ability. People with NVLD, he said, tend to excel in tasks involving spoken and written language, while autistics tend to have issues with processing spoken verbal information. He also said that people with AS tend to be better at math then people with NVLD, who usually have problems with math and that people with NVLD donlt have the obsessive special interests aspies do.

http://pediatricneurology.com/autism.htm

Another take.

I like the graph and conclusion at the bottom of the page.

Interesting, Daniel. I seem to fit all of the characteristics of NVD (including counting the houses as a kid), as this person outlines them. However, I also have the preoccupations/special interests.

On the other hand, Kutchner's view that children with Asperger's autism have no interest in being friends with other kids differs from most writers I have come across. From what I have read, most aspies (myself included) want to have friends. They are just clueless on how to do it.

I got a question about NLD.

What if a person does poorly in mathematics, excells in languages but is horrible at doing presentations and/or public speaking? At which side would he/she be thrown to?