Non-verbal learning disorder or NLD is a particularly poignant condition. Often misdiagnosed as Asperger’s Syndrome (high-functioning autism) or Savant Syndrome (a developmental handicap accompanied by extraordinary mental abilities in one or more fields), children with NLD typically excel in early speech and vocabulary development, and display a remarkable memory for things that interest them. Like the Aspie child, Olivia Bean in INSIDE OUT GIRL is capable of discussing the elimination habits of the Norway rat long after you’ve thrown out the dinner you no longer have the desire to eat!
Just like Aspie’s, kids with NLD tend to fall short with social, motor and visual-spatial skills. The subtlety of language eludes them. The subtlety of social innuendo eludes them. They tend to be the kids in 7th grade who show up wearing sweatpants pulled up to their armpits and the musty woolen liners of their winter boots—social suicide in middle grade. The other kids often pick on them and they can fall prey to relentless bullying.
And here lies the poignancy of NLD. Aspies tend to exist within their own isolated social bubble, uninterested in connecting with other children. Not so with the NLDer. The child with NLD—so sweet and naïve—typically wants to be loved, wants to be accepted. Every snub in the playground wounds them to the core. Olivia Bean longs for her birthday party so she can invite everyone from her class. But her father knows no matter how many invitations his daughter doles out, not a single child will show up. The NLD child wants social acceptance more than anything, and more often than not will never achieve it.
Just imagine your own child going through this.
5 comments:
Oh, so heartbreaking. SOunds like yo've really done your homework on the subject Tish. I can see why you'd want to write a story about this condition.
Wendyb
It is a heartbreaking condition, one that has received very little media attention. Hopefully that will change.
Today, standing at the register at the fruit market, I almost dropped my oranges and strawberries when I realized that my pants were inside out. Yes, my pants! (I've done it with shirts before, but PANTS?) Fortunately, I was able to explain it away by saying I was just doing a little promotion for my friend's marvelous new novel. Always trying to help...
I have this disability. I believe I could be the 'poster boy' for this disability. I was in the infantry(military/Army) for 3 years. When you consider the intricacies of the symptoms or you are a sufferer you would understand that when I say it was difficult, you know that it was very difficult. I'm proud of what I did but I could never do it again.
NDL isn't a good theme! I prefer something futuristic instead this.
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