NLD stands for Nonverbal Learning Disorder, which is a neurological disorder that originates in the right hemisphere of the brain. It is characterized by specific assets and deficits, including difficulties with visual-spatial, intuitive, organizational, evaluative, and holistic processing functions. Children with NLD may have trouble with skills like understanding concepts, finding patterns, and organizing information. They may also struggle with social perception, visual-spatial abilities, and mechanical arithmetic, but have well-developed verbal skills and rote memory.

NLD is not classified into any distinct diagnosis in DSM-5 or ICD-10, but it does have a robust research base. While the majority of researchers and clinicians agree that the profile of NLD clearly exists, they disagree on the need for a specific clinical category and on the criteria for its identification. NLD is often misdiagnosed or confused for ADHD, due to shared symptoms like social skills difficulties, anxiousness, and disorganization.

Despite the name of this disorder, those who have NLD are far from nonverbal. In fact, verbal skills are their greatest asset. Children with NLD typically have good reading skills, often outpacing their peers in elementary school. Because they have excellent verbal memory, they often possess a large store of information and have a well-developed vocabulary. There are no medical treatments for NLD, but there are strategies and interventions that can help, such as addressing each childs unique profile as determined by a thorough evaluation.