Skip to main content

Overview of the Current Research on NVLD

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Treating NVLD in Children

Abstract

For psychologists practicing in the field, the research on NVLD might appear to be as easy to untangle as the proverbial Gordian knot. So much has been written from so many perspectives that one might find one’s self wondering how to begin. The purpose of this chapter will be, first, to loosen the strings a little by showing how the literature as a whole evolved, then to provide some guidelines about how one might assess the utility of research articles available, and finally to offer some of the more reliable findings in the literature and to raise some questions still unresolved.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Antshel, K. M., & Joseph, G. R. (2006). Maternal stress in nonverbal learning disorder: A comparison with reading disorder. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 39(3), 194–205.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Antshel, K. M., & Khan, F. M. (2008). Is there an increased familial prevalence of psychopathology in children with nonverbal learning disorders? Journal of Learning Disabilities, 41(3), 208–217. doi:10.1177/0022219408317546.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barnea-Goraly, N., Menon, V., Krasnow, B., Ko, A., Reiss, A., & Eliez, S. (2003). Investigation of white matter structure in velocardiofacial syndrome: A diffusion tensor imaging study. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 160(10), 1863.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Benton, A. L., Varney, N. R., & Hamsher, K. (1978). Visuospatial judgment: A clinical test. Archives of Neurology, 35, 364–367.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bloom, E., & Heath, N. (2010). Recognition, expression, and understanding facial expressions of emotion in adolescents with nonverbal and general learning disabilities. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 43(2), 180–192. doi:10.1177/0022219409345014.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Davis, J. M., & Broitman, J. (2011). Nonverbal learning disabilities in children: Bridging the gap between science and practice. New York: Springer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • De Smedt, B., Swillen, A., Devriendt, K., Fryns, J. P., Verschaffel, L., & Ghesquière, P. (2007). Mathematical disabilities in children with velo-cardio-facial syndrome. Neuropsychologia, 45(5), 885–895.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dehaene, S., Piazza, M., Pinel, P., & Cohen, L. (2005). Three parietal circuits for number processing. In J. I. D. Campbell (Ed.), Handbook of mathematical cognition (pp. 433–453). New York: Psychology Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Devriendt, K., Fryns, J. P., Mortier, G., Van Thienen, M., & Keymolen, K. (1998). The annual incidence of DiGeorge/velocardiofacial syndrome. Journal of Medical Genetics, 35(9), 789.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Drummond, C. R., Ahmad, S. A., & Rourke, B. P. (2005). Rules for the classification of younger children with nonverbal learning disabilities and basic phonological processing disabilities. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 20, 171–182.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eliez, S., Schmitt, J. E., White, C. D., & Reiss, A. L. (2000). Children and adolescents with velocardiofacial syndrome: A volumetric MRI study. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 157(3), 409.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fine, J. G., & Semrud-Clikeman, M. (2010). Nonverbal learning disabilities: Assessment and intervention. In A. Davis (Ed.), The handbook of neuropsychology. New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fine, J. G., Semrud-Clikeman, M., Bledsoe, J., & Musielak, K. (in press). A critical review of the NLD literature as a developmental disorder. Child Neuropsychology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fine, J. G., Semrud-Clikeman, M., Butcher, B., & Walkowiak, J. (2008). Brief report: Attention effect on a measure of social perception. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38(9), 1797–1802. doi:10.1007/s10803-008-0570-x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Forrest, B. (2004). The utility of math difficulties, internalized psychopathology, and visual-spatial deficits to identify children with the nonverbal learning disability syndrome: Evidence for a visualspatial disability. Child Neuropsychology (Neuropsychology, Development and Cognition: Section C), 10(2), 129–146.

    Google Scholar 

  • Geary, D. C. (2004). Mathematics and learning disabilities. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 37(1), 4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg, E., & Costa, L. D. (1981). Hemisphere differences in the acquisition and use of descriptive systems. Brain and Language, 14, 144–173.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grodzinsky, G. M., Forbes, P. W., & Bernstein, J. H. (2010). A practice-based approach to group identification in nonverbal learning disorders. Child Neuropsychology, 16(5), 433–460.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Harnadek, M. C. S., & Rourke, B. P. (1994). Principal identifying features of the syndrome of nonverbal learning disabilities in children. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 27(3), 144–154.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Humphries, T., Cardy, J. O., Worling, D. E., & Peets, K. (2004). Narrative comprehension and retelling abilities of children with nonverbal learning disabilities. Brain and Cognition, 56, 77–88.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Klin, A., Volkmar, F. R., Sparrow, S. S., Cicchetti, B. P., & Rourke, B. P. (1995). Validity and neuropsychological characterization of Asperger syndrome: Convergence with nonverbal learning disabilities syndrome. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 36(7), 1127–1140.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kobrynski, L. J., & Sullivan, K. E. (2007). Velocardiofacial syndrome, DiGeorge syndrome: The chromosome 22q11. 2 deletion syndromes. Lancet, 370(9596), 1443–1452.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mammarella, I. C., Lucangeli, D., & Cornoldi, C. (2010). Spatial working memory and arithmetic deficits in childrne with nonverbal learning difficulties. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 43(5), 455–468.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McDonald, B. (2002). Recent developments in the application of the nonverbal learning disabilities model. Current Psychiatry Reports, 4(5), 323–330. doi:10.1007/s11920-002-0079-5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moss, E. M., Batshaw, M. L., Solot, C. B., Gerdes, M., McDonald-McGinn, D. M., Driscoll, D. A., et al. (1999). Psychoeducational profile of the 22q11. 2 microdeletion: A complex pattern. The Journal of Pediatrics, 134(2), 193–198.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Myklebust, H. R. (1975). Progress in learning disabilities (Vol. 3). New York: Grune & Stratton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pelletier, P. M., Ahmad, S. A., & Rourke, B. P. (2001). Classification rules for basic phonological processing disabilities and nonverbal learning disabilities: Formulation and external validity. Child Neuropsychology, 7(2), 84–98.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pennington, B. F. (2009a). Issues in syndrome validation. In Diagnosing learning disorders: A neuropsychological framework (2nd ed., pp. 23–41). New York: The Guildford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pennington, B. F. (2009b). Nonverbal learning disability. In Diagnosing learning disorders: A neuropsychological framework (2nd ed., pp. 242–248). New York: The Guildford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petti, V. L., Voelker, S. L., Shore, D. L., & Hayman-Abello, S. E. (2002). Perception of nonverbal emotional cues by children with nonverbal learning disabilities. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 15(1), 23–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ris, D. M., Ammerman, R. T., Waller, N., Walz, N., Oppenheimer, S., Brown, T. M., et al. (2007). Taxonicity of nonverbal learning disabilities. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 13, 50–58.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ris, D. M., & Nortz, M. (2008). Nonverbal learning disorder. In J. E. Morgan & J. H. Ricker (Eds.), Textbook of clinical neuropsychology: Studies on neuropsychology, neurology and cognition (pp. 346–359). New York: Elsevier Psychology Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rourke, B. P. (1989). Nonverbal learning disabilities: The syndrome and the model. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rourke, B. P. (1995). The NLD syndrome and the white matter model. In B. P. Rourke (Ed.), Syndrome of nonverbal learning disabilities: Neurodevelopmental manifestations. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rourke, B. P., & Finlayson, M. A. J. (1978). Neuropsychological significance of variations in patterns of academic performance: Verbal and visual-spatial abilities. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 6(1), 121–133.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rourke, B. P., Rourke, S., & van der Vlugt, H. (2002). Practice of child-clinical neuropsychology. Lisse, The Netherlands: Swets & Zeitlinger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rourke, B. P., & Strang, J. D. (1978). Neuropsychological significance of variations in patterns of academic performance: Motor, psychomotor and tactile-perceptual abilities. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 3(2), 62–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rourke, B. P., & Strang, J. D. (1983). Subtypes of reading and arithmetical disabilities: A neuropsychological analysis. In M. Rutter (Ed.), Developmental neuropsychiatry. Guildford: New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rourke, B. P., & Tsatsanis, K. (2000). Nonverbal learning disabilities and Asperger syndrome. In A. Klin, F. R. Volkmar, & S. S. Sparrow (Eds.), Asperger syndrome (pp. 231–253). New York: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rourke, B. P., Van der Vlugt, H., & Rourke, S. B. (2002). Practice of child-clinical neuropsychology: An introduction (Vol. 6). Taylor & Francis. Lisse, The Netherlands..

    Google Scholar 

  • Rourke, B. P., Young, G. C., & Leenaars, A. A. (1989). A childhood learning disability that predisposes those afflicted to adolescent and adult depression and suicide risk. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 22, 169–175. doi:10.1177/002221948902200305.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schafer, V., & Semrud-Clikeman, M. (2008). Neuropsychological functioning in subgroups of children with and without social perception deficits and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity. Journal of Attention Disorders, 12(2), 177–190.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Semrud-Clikeman, M., & Glass, K. L. (2008). Comprehension of humor in children with nonverbal learning disabilities, reading disabilities, and without learning disabilities. Annals of Dyslexia, 58(2), 163–180.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Semrud-Clikeman, M., & Hynd, G. W. (1990). Right hemispheric dysfunction in nonverbal learning disabilities: Social, academic, and adaptive functioning in adults and children. Psychological Bulletin, 107(2), 196–209.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Strang, J. D., & Rourke, B. P. (1983). Concept-formation/non-verbal reasoning abilities of children who exhibit specific academic problems in arithmetic. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 12(1), 33–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Amelsvoort, T., Daly, E., Robertson, D., Suckling, J., Ng, V., Critchley, H., et al. (2001). Structural brain abnormalities associated with deletion at chromosome 22q11: Quantitative neuroimaging study of adults with velo-cardio-facial syndrome. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 178(5), 412.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wechsler, D. (1991). WISC-III manual. San Antonio: The Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodin, M., Wang, P. P., Aleman, D., McDonald-McGinn, D., Zackai, E., & Moss, E. (2001). Neuropsychological profile of children and adolescents with the 22q11.2 microdeletion. Genetics in Medicine, 3(1), 34–39.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Worling, D. E., Humphries, T., & Tannock, R. (1999). Spatial and emotional aspects of language inferencing in nonverbal learning disabilities. Brain and Language, 70, 220–239.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yeates, K. O., Loss, N., Colvin, A. N., & Enrile, B. G. (2003). Do children with myelomeningocele and hydrocephalus display nonverbal learning disabilities? An empirical approach to classification. Journal of International Neuropsychological Society, 9(4), 653–662.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yu, J. W., Buka, S., McCormick, M. C., Fitzmaurice, G. M., & Indurkhya, A. (2006). Behavioral problems and the effects of early intervention on eight-year-old children with learning disabilities. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 10(4), 329–338.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jodene Goldenring Fine Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Fine, J.G. (2013). Overview of the Current Research on NVLD. In: Broitman, J., Davis, J. (eds) Treating NVLD in Children. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6179-1_15

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics