NLD Information and Support Thread

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I MAY have NLD, or combined AS/dyspraxia.

However, I've never been officially diagnosed with NLD.

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It's been absolutely ages since I've posted anything, so here it goes...

I have NLD. I was originally diagnosed with AS, but I'm the complete opposite of a lot of things, so I was re-diagnosed a few years later. And I don't have an official diagnosis of OCD yet, but we're very certain I have it. My first memory of that was when I was just one and a half. I'd say that's pretty young.

Anyway, really the only thing I have that has to do with AS is the obsessions. But that's usually only with TV shows and movies and stuff like that, nothing like trains or astrophysics or the like. I think those would probably put me to sleep ; )

Unlike AS, I am extremely good at eye contact. I don't recall ever having any problems with it and I've been told a few times it's the best some people have ever seen. It's also really helped me in my beauty pageants because you have to maintain good eye contact with the judges and there's always more than one of them.

However, I definitely have the face blindness issue. I am absolutely terrible with recognizing people. I'm also just as bad with remembering names, so that's a lose/lose situation. It really, really hurt me when I was dealing with bullies when I was younger. And at one school district, it just seemed like everyone looked the same to me so that was even worse there.

I also did not start speaking regularly until I was four. I was capable of it when I was younger (I could read words out loud when I was two), but oddly enough, I was too afraid to speak because I was afraid of messing up and making a fool of myself. I was an extreme perfectionist when I was little with everything I did. I am today to a degree, but not nearly as much.

School was always either great or horrible, never anything inbetween. I was either extremely popular or the most hated kid in school. It all depended on the location and what grade it was. I spent most of my childhood in what would be considered an inner-city school district. But I can definitely say I got some street smarts out of that. We actually have a lot of money, but my mom wanted to be close to her parents after a bad divorce down in Houston. Those schools actually weren't as bad as the school I went to after that, though, which was all-white (I'm white, too, but I'm used to everyone being different cultures.). That's the school like I said earlier where I thought everyone looked the same, therefore faces would be a problem. They all also had that German build to them and the fake blonde hair thing going on.

When I was starting out in school, the subjects were all so easy to me, I was often very bored. Then they pulled me out of some of the subjects of mainstreaming in second grade and that really did hurt me. After a while, I figured out I was either extremely good at a school subject, like English, or really bad at a school district, like math. I could either learn it instantly and remember it forever or sit there for three hours and not soak in a single thing. That ended up making school really, really hard for me. I have an IQ at 138, but I don't feel like I do. I think I'm just really good at making educated guesses when I don't know the real answers. I passed a college admissions test with flying colors last year doing this. They acted like I had the highest score that they ever saw. But then when I did their class placement tests, I didn't do so hot on those, with the exception of language arts and typing.

When it comes to people, I am very social and have no problems at all meeting new people. Heck, I love meeting new people! Actually, when I see others talking and they're not involving me, I get deeply jealous. I'm all alone at the moment with no friends in the area (everyone here is stupid) and my bf recently broke up with me, so I'm not really all that thrilled about being alone. I hate it. I also love getting attention, as long as it isn't negative. Nothing is worth that.

I'm the type of person that can't stand being cooped up all day or following a routine. I get bored very, very quickly and I love to mix things up. I need to be able to get out and go shopping, go to the zoo, the movies, wherever. I figured out I went to the mall 109 times last year, a lot of those times just to get out and do something. I don't have any sensory issues (other than a bad one with pain) so none of those things bother me in the least.

I could say a ton more, but I think that really about covers it. If you made it this far, thanks for reading! Please comment and tell me what you think!

Wow, we're VERY different! I'm fine at socializing now, but I always prefer being alone to being with people. It's easier and less stressful, and with my obsessions I can keep myself occupied forever. I also do my best to have a routine, and to not break it if I can possibly help it! I hate change

i think i'm more classically NLD. there's a huge rift between what i can do verbally and performance iq. math, directions, left-right have always been a struggle. also, my obsessions seem to shift over time. i don't have one overriding interest.

but i also wonder about things like stimming, (mild) sensory issues, etc.: i don't know if those are considered more NLD or more AS. (i do stim, have had shifting sensory issues over time.) i think i also have some significant struggles with reading body language, facial expressions., etc. issues with coordination and balance were fairly apparent when i was a child, but they are much less severe now.

i also have recently learned that difficulties with depth perception, peripheral vision aren't uncommon on the autism spectrum. i've wondered about both these difficulties in me.

i do agree that it's often a continuum--AS and NLD. i sometimes wonder why NLD isn't included on the spectrum. it seems more similar to AS than not.

Does anyone know if NVLD qill be inclueded in the DSM V, and if so will it be put on the autism spectrum?

as for my prevous post my resualts are in I havee PDD-NOS though NVLD captures my strengths and weaknessses my history and presentation support a PDD-NOS diagnosis.


I do fine at math but I take a REAL LONG time to do it. (I process slowly but i do understand it and can do it) I also am fine with vissuals for math like charts and graphs and I have heard people with NVLD have alot of trouble with those.

There are three NLD groups on Facebook.

They are not real active, but neither is this thread.

Just sign up with Facebook and do the search.

Woodenhouse, your obsessions sure make you sound like you have Asperger.

Does anyone know if having headaches most of the time is something connected with NLD?

Do people with NLD have problems with eye-contact too?

Thanks in advance for your insights!

I still do not get the difference between NVLD and autism. Someone said they didn't have obsessive interests, made good eye contact, liked to socialize, but had trouble recognizing people. So, then, what DO NLD's have problems with and how is it different than autism?

I mean, I've read about NLD. People either describe it as almost the same thing as autism or it sounds like a lot of opposites. I don't even think it exists anymore.