This book explores the problems children with NLD may face, and provides strategies for parents to help them cope and grow, from preschool age through their challenging adolescent years. The author provides solutions to the everyday challenges of the disorder, from early warning signs and self-care issues to social skills and personal safety.

Although it has yet to be recognized by the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), nonverbal learning disabilities (NVLD) in children are a growing concern. NVLD are receiving increased attention from researchers as well as from clinicians encountering these conditions in their young clients. At the same time, reliable information on effective interventions for NVLD has lagged behind this interest. Nonverbal Learning Disabilities in Children: Bridging the Gap Between Science and Practice offers a well-rounded understanding of NVLD, placing it within the context of other developmental disorders, most notably high-functioning autism and Asperger’s syndrome. The most current genetic, environmental, and neurobiological theories of and research into the causes of NVLD (e.g., the “white matter model”), in-depth diagnostic methods, and quality interventions are examined. Using an evidence-based approach, this groundbreaking volume: Conceptualizes NVLD as a disorder with subtypes. Differentiates between diagnostic criteria for NVLD and Asperger’s Syndrome. Analyzes the co-occurrence of NVLD with other developmental disabilities and psychological disorders. Provides a comprehensive psychoeducational assessment model. Describes efficacious treatments and supports their empirical validation. Offers guidelines for sustaining treatment gains through effective collaboration of school personnel and family members. Nonverbal Learning Disabilities in Children is a must-have reference for researchers, practitioners, and graduate students in school and clinical child psychology, education, speech-language therapy, and other disciplines and professions involved in identifying and treating children with NVLD.

A nonverbal learning disability (NLD) is a developmental disorder that impairs a person's capacity to perceive, express, and understand nonverbal (nonlinguistic) signs. The dysfunctions affect behaviors, social interactions, perceptions and feelings regarding oneself and others, and emerging personality patterns. NLD constrains an individual's capacity to function in a wide variety of domains, including the academic, social, emotional, and vocational. Parents and clinicians often have difficulty understanding and helping children and adolescents who are simultaneously cherished and whose functioning is hampered by the condition. Based on current neurobehavioral research, this book brings together perspectives drawn from the three major domains of knowledge about NLD--neurobehavioral, social, and intrapersonal. From the neurobehavioral perspective, Palombo provides a research-based phenomenological description of the NLD child's symptoms. From the social perspective, he presents the child's social context and how that contributes (in positive and negative ways) to the child's skills and deficits. From the intrapersonal perspective, he introduces the concept of mindsharing as basic to understand the development of the sense of self in children with NLD. In Part I, readers are introduced to NLD as it presents in the clinic with a review of the etiology and symptomatology of the syndrome reflected in a case study. The author then goes on to describe the neurobehavioral profile of NLD (including its psychological and social dimensions). In Part II the social perspective and intrapersonal aspect of NLD are considered. Palombo describes the impact of the syndrome on social functioning, social communication, and emotional functioning. At the close of this part, readers find a clear articulation of the four NLD subtypes. The intrapersonal area is addressed in Part III where Palombo presents the concept of mindsharing--i.e., the ability of one person to both know and feel what another person is experiencing. Because they lack a capacity for mindsharing, children and adolescents affected by the syndrome often fail not only a social and emotional connection with others but also experience a lack of cohesion in their own sense of self. Finally, in Part IV, Palombo presents a therapeutic approach to working with youth with NLD. Drawing together the various clinical insights from earlier in the book, these last chapters synthesize the material and highlight the most important aspects so as to best guide the treatment of children and adolescents. Addressed to clinicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, and other psychotherapists, this book is a fund of knowledge and clinical wisdom for working with youth with NLD. It offers an overarching paradigm relevant to all professionals and parents alike as they care for effected children and adolescents.

Increasing numbers of children and adolescents are being diagnosed with nonverbal learning disabilities (NLD), yet clinicians and educators have few scientific resources to guide assessment and intervention. This book presents up-to-date knowledge on the nature of NLD and how to differentiate it from DSM-5 disorders such as autism spectrum disorder and developmental coordination disorder. Effective strategies for helping K-12 students and their families address the challenges of NLD in and outside of the classroom are illustrated with vivid case material. The authors thoughtfully consider controversies surrounding NLD, discuss why the diagnosis is not included in the current DSM and ICD classification systems, and identify important directions for future research.

NONVERBAL LEARNING DISABILITIES systematically identifies, describes, and explains the elements and dynamics of the nonverbal learning disabilities (NLD) syndrome--including its neuropsychological, academic, and socioemotional/adaptational aspects. In addition, this groundbreaking work explores the ramifications of the NLD syndrome for both the theoretical and applied aspects of the neuropsychology of learning disabilities in particular and for the field of child-clinical neuropsychology in general.

This unique volume explores issues related to working with children who have nonverbal learning disability (NVLD). It examines how a child’s psychology – thoughts, feelings, beliefs – affects his or her functioning and learning. In addition, the book addresses how a child’s experiences are processed through individual personality, psychology, culture, environment and economic circumstances, and family dynamics. Using these psychological organizing principles, the book describes how to work most effectively with young patients with NVLD. It offers a new model and definition for understanding NVLD, emphasizing its core deficit of visual-spatial processing. In addition, this book addresses efforts to rename NVLD to developmental visual-spatial disorder (DVSD). It describes the 11 possible subtypes as including a primary deficit in visual-spatial processes and impairment in several additional functional domains, including executive functioning, social/emotional deficits, academic achievement, and motor coordination. The book highlights the need for psychologically minded treatment and provides specific intervention guidelines. It details how to conduct the intake process and create a treatment plan and team and offers practical suggestions for working with a patient’s family members. In addition, the book addresses the importance of working with a consistent psychological theory, such as control mastery theory (CMT). It describes the Brooklyn Learning Center Model for treating NVLD and offers guidelines for interventions to support patients academically. The book provides a comprehensive approach to the neuropsychological assessment of NVLD as well as examples of visual-spatial, sensory perception, executive functioning, academics, social/emotional deficits and motor coordination interventions, and all forms used to gather information from patients. Key areas of coverage include: Definition of nonverbal learning disability (NVLD). Efforts toward inclusion in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) and for renaming it to a developmental visual-spatial disorder (DVSD) Guide to general diagnostic testing and assessment. Developing a treatment plan and team for NVLD patients. NVLD therapy and tutoring priorities. NVLD and Developmental Visual-Spatial Disorder in Children is an essential reference for clinicians, therapists, and other professionals as well as researchers, professors, and graduate students in school and clinical child psychology, special education, speech-language therapy, developmental psychology, pediatrics, social work as well as all interrelated disciplines.

The syndrome of nonverbal learning disabilities (NLD) is a subtype of learning disabilities whose neuropsychological assets and deficits have predictable academic and psychosocial outcomes. Developed by Byron P. Rourke and elucidated in his previous work, the "white matter model" was designed to encompass the complex manifestations and neurophysiological underpinnings of the NLD syndrome. Now, for the first time, evidence that bears upon the white matter model has been gathered into a single volume. Building upon Rourke's previous work on NLD, Syndrome of Nonverbal Learning Disabilities: Neurodevelopmental Manifestations, further explores the ramifications of NLD in the neuropsychology of learning disabilities and in pediatric neurological disease, disorder, and dysfunction. Following an overview of the white matter model, chapters cover a wide range of pediatric neurological diseases and disorders through which the model is examined with particular attention to its neurophysiological aspects. The diseases and disorders discussed include callosal agenesis, Asperger syndrome, velocardiofacial syndrome, Williams syndrome, de Lange syndrome, early hydrocephalus, Sotos syndrome, congenital hypothyroidism, acute lymphocytic leukemia, metachromatic leukodystrophy, Turner syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, and toxicant-induced encephalopathy. Dimensions relevant to both assessment and treatment are raised throughout the work, as are suggestions for future research. Recommended for neuropsychologists, neurologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and pediatricians treating children with learning disabilities or with pediatric neurological disease, disorder, and dysfunction, Syndrome of Nonverbal Learning Disabilities serves both as an authoritative update on recent advances and as a text for advanced courses in child/developmental neuropsychology, pediatric neurology, and learning disabilities.