Misconceptions of NLD and LDs

Jan 19

Welcome to Living with an Invisible Learning Challenge, where we discuss the struggles and triumphs of living with learning differences like Nonverbal Learning Disability (NLD), autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, and others. I interview individuals living with various learning challenges, so please reach out if you know someone or are that person.

Good morning, everyone! Happy Friday. Apologies for not recording last week. I tried, but I think the microphone was in the wrong port on my computer.

Today's chapter is about some common misconceptions about both NLD and my chronic migraine condition. Feel free to apply this to your own life if it resonates.

Nonverbal Learning Disability (NLD) is a learning challenge that makes it difficult to process nonverbal information. This includes body language, facial expressions, tone of voice, social cues, and other behaviors that make up a large part of social interaction. NLD also comes with physical challenges, such as impaired fine motor skills and lower visual-spatial awareness. People with NLD can also process information more slowly, making it difficult to do things like mental math, retain information, and think abstractly.

I am a person with NLD. I created this podcast to educate people about what it’s like to have it. Through this podcast, I hope to raise awareness and build a community so fellow NVLDers and other neurodivergent people don’t feel so alone.

Misconception 1: My Pain Isn't Real Because It Isn't Visible

This is far from the truth. I didn't truly understand that my pain and challenges were real until I was diagnosed with a nonverbal learning difference—a word I prefer over disability—in college at age 19. I also started having chronic migraines around that time. I thought the migraines were due to the stress, homesickness, and depression I was experiencing, but after a year of them not stopping, I realized they were a separate medical issue.

Before I was diagnosed with NLD and had my accommodations, I was barely passing my classes with Cs. After getting accommodations and taking more advantage of the tutoring center, I started getting A's and B's. This made a huge difference. I began to enjoy some aspects of my life more because I finally understood why things had been so challenging.

Misconception 2: "But You Can...”

People often say, “But you can talk, drive, ride a bike, do mental math, plan a budget, and graduate from UC Berkeley in four years, so you’re not disabled.”

Yes, I can do all of these things, but not without significant challenges.

Talking: Sometimes I can’t speak well because it takes me a while to form my thoughts due to a migraine. Other times, my tone doesn’t sound right, or I don’t realize how something sounds until I’ve already said it—a common NLD challenge.
Driving: I learned to ride a bike at 15 and to drive at 22, much later than most people. I struggle with fine motor skills, balance, and spatial awareness. I’ve fallen off my bike, but I always get back on. I’ve also been in four minor car accidents, and two of them totaled my cars. I’ve been thinking more about my driving habits recently. I've realized I don't drive well at night because my vision is poor, and I'm not as alert. I've also learned to avoid driving when I have a bad migraine. I plan to use these strategies more often and rely on family and friends for rides when needed.
Mental Math & Budgeting: I can do mental math and plan a budget, but it's hard. I often need to use paper for more complex math problems. When I manage my budget, I need a very detailed, step-by-step list so I don’t lose track of money. My mom, who created the list for me, still has to help me sometimes when things don't balance.
Graduating from UC Berkeley: I graduated in four years, but not without extreme help from my mom, professors, and my accommodations. I considered quitting many times. What kept me going was imagining myself in the stadium on graduation day and knowing that my family believed in me even when I couldn't believe in myself.

Misconception 3: You Don't Look Disabled

Erin, a member of the Young Adult Leadership Council for the National Center for Learning Disabilities, writes in her article "Defying Misconceptions of My Learning Disability":

"You don't look like you have a learning disability or difference. I would never have guessed that you have a learning difference... It's frustrating evidence that some in society have an 'image' of what individuals with learning differences should look like or what they should be able to accomplish. Neurodiversity is one type of diversity... Disability impacts each person in different ways."

I applaud Erin for her advocacy. She is a great example of what you can accomplish with a learning difference. With hard work, determination, and support, she graduated magna cum laude and is now working on her doctoral coursework. She shows that you can accomplish more than most people think you can.

ChatGPT also weighed in on this, stating:

"One of the biggest misconceptions of non-verbal learning differences is that individuals with this challenge are not intelligent or capable of achieving success... However, this is not true. Individuals with non-verbal learning differences often have strong verbal skills and may excel academically... It is important to remember that every individual with a non-verbal learning disability or difference is unique and may have different strengths and challenges."

I was curious to see what an AI would say, and I was impressed by how accurate this was.

Misconception 4: NLD is the Same as Autism

In her article, "Non-Verbal Learning Disability and NVLD," Lisa Chow explains:

"NVLD is often misunderstood. NVLD is categorized by social difficulty and, therefore, is often placed on the autism spectrum. However, we think there are important behavioral distinctions between the diagnoses... For example, children with autism tend to have better spatial than verbal abilities, whereas those with NVLD have better verbal than spatial abilities."

The NVLD Project is dedicated to raising awareness, helping to obtain an official diagnosis for NLD, and providing educational workshops. They are supporting research at Columbia University and the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles to compare the brain scans of children with NLD and those with high-functioning autism. This is great because there are overlaps between NVLD, autism, and ADHD, which can lead to misdiagnosis.

Misconception 5: Learning Disabilities Go Away

This is one of the most significant misconceptions. As an article titled "Five Misconceptions About Learning Disabilities" points out:

"Learning disabilities do not go away. They are with you for life... That doesn't mean someone with a learning disability... can't achieve or even be widely successful. They just need to find ways to circumvent or accommodate the areas in which they don't do well... A person who is diabetic can still be a world-class athlete, but they need to figure out how to balance the management of their medical condition with their training and competition needs."

This is so true. I didn't know I had a learning difference until I was an adult. I had a hunch in high school, but I didn't even know what a learning difference was. When I was diagnosed in college, it gave me a better understanding of myself. When I came home on breaks and helped in Sunday school, I was able to better empathize with the neurodivergent children there because I knew what it was like to have challenges and for things not to come easily to me.

I hope this chapter helped provide you with a better understanding of these misconceptions. I've done a similar episode on the myths and facts of NVLD before. As usual, I'll provide the links to all the articles in the description so you can read more on your own.

Links to articles:

Butterfly Changing