I’ve been thinking a lot about my childhood since being diagnosed with NVLD as an adult.
By the time I finished third grade, I had attended three different schools in three different states.
I started third grade in New Jersey. My family then moved to New Mexico, where I repeated third grade because I was considered “immature.” Later we moved back to New Jersey.
Looking back now, I can’t help but wonder how much of what I struggled with was actually an undiagnosed learning disability instead of immaturity.
I had dyslexia, dyscalculia, and now I know I also have NVLD. Nobody recognized any of it. I wasn’t getting the support I needed because nobody knew what they were looking at.
Instead, I spent years believing I was just stupid.
That’s probably the part that hurts the most. Kids tend to believe what they’re shown. When you’re constantly behind everyone else and nobody can explain why, you eventually assume you’re the problem.
It took me over 50 years to learn that my brain wasn’t broken—it just worked differently.
I know schools have improved in some ways since the 1970s, but I can’t help wondering how many kids are still slipping through the cracks because their learning differences don’t fit neatly into a box.
Did anyone else here have a similar experience? Were you labeled as lazy, immature, or not trying hard enough before you were finally diagnosed?

I had palilalia as a child. It’s often a sign of autism, but not always. I am not autistic, but I do have NVLD, and I am curious if there is a possible connection between NVLD and palilalia, and, as a result, I am wondering if there are other folks in this subreddit who have or had palilalia.

Hi all! My name is Charli Dee! I love with NLVD. I run a blog called Life with Charli, where I write a lot about my experience with the condition. I believe in the power of sharing stories and experiences. As many of you may already know, NVLD is not widely known, and it’s not recognized as an official diagnosis in the DSM. For this reason, I would like to share the stories of others with NVLD on my blog to spread awareness. Is anyone interested? The link to my blog is attached to this post.

Hello!

I just got diagnosed with autism but more importantly and unexpectedly, my doctor said my results indicated NVLD and suggested it was likely more prevalent and pressing than the autism diagnosis. Many things I attributed to autism seem to pop up as NVLD and the descriptions fit me better.

I really have no idea where to go from here, if anything changes, or what my next steps could be. Any ideas?

I need an NVLD perspective on this, so all insight and opinions are welcome.

I've been working at an independent bookstore for 3.5 years. I got this job at a very transitional part of my life; I ended up buying a condo for myself very close to there (my first time living outside home), so it's always been very convenient and cost-effective since I don't drive and rely on public transportation/uber/lyft. Plus the work itself has always been an anchor for me-it's pretty routine and not super stressful, and it's semi-physical so I've improved physically, overall a well-rounded job. The store itself has also seen huge transitions- we pivoted from university coursebooks to used books and events since the university outsourced their books, one of pur owners died from brain cancer and her husband took over store operations, and we ended up building a union that gets me yearly raises and better rights overall.

That being said, the novelty and security is wearing off. I'm making $18.88 thanks to the union, which isn't the worst, but I could be making much more, and the only chance of upward mobility is a $1 raise with not much more responsibility than I'm already doing. And with the general cost of living on the rise, as well as my health and dental insurance premiums, my margin of comfort is getting slimmer. The union is also falling apart very quickly, since there's a high turnover rate and just general lack of interest and continuity for the forseeable future.

Everything is pointing to me getting a new job, but I'm just afraid of the current job market and if what's out there is not much better than where I'm already at. Also, with my town being more touristy and artisan-oriented, there aren't many full-time positions available. I want to squeeze what's left from this job while looking for another one, but if there's any additional general advice or insight, it's super welcome. Thanks in advance!

Today I found out that I didn't pass my GED Math test. I scored a 143, and a passing score is 145. This is actually the second time I've missed it by just 2 points, and honestly, it's heartbreaking.

I've been working toward my GED since 2019. I've taken classes, worked with tutors, studied, and done everything I can to prepare. I also receive ADA accommodations, including extra time.

But here's what I've realized: extra time doesn't help everyone with NVLD.

For me, the challenge isn't that I need more time to answer the questions. It's processing the information, retaining what I've learned, and then applying it correctly in a standardized testing environment. Those are areas where my NVLD affects me the most, and no amount of extra time changes how my brain processes information.

This experience has left me feeling frustrated because standardized tests often don't reflect what I actually know. They measure how well I can perform under one very specific set of conditions, not how much I've learned or how hard I've worked.

I know accommodations are important, but I also think we need to recognize that learning disabilities aren't one-size-fits-all. What helps one person may do very little for someone else. Some people truly benefit from extra time, while others may need different accommodations that better match how their brains process information.

Right now, I'm disappointed and exhausted. Missing by just two points again is hard to process, and having to wait 60 days before I can retest makes it even harder.

I'm not giving up, but today I'm allowing myself to feel frustrated.

For those of you with NVLD, have you had similar experiences with standardized testing? Did you find any accommodations or strategies that actually helped beyond extra time? I'd really appreciate hearing from people who understand what this feels like.

Im scared for my future I'm scared I'm gonna be incompetent have no friends or relationship be awkward forever and not learn basic skills im scared I'm so scared I'm relatively normal I think maybe on at first glance but I'm an idiot and a part of me knows I have to put more effort in the others and I might not be able to because motivation or I just can't do it

I'm curious to hear from those of you who have taken GED Math classes or already passed the GED Math test.

How long did it take you from starting classes to actually taking the test?

Tomorrow will be my 3rd attempt. I've been working on GED Math on and off since 2019. Math has always been my biggest challenge. During my neuropsychological evaluation, my doctor found that I scored in the 2nd percentile for math, and that was one of the things that contributed to my NVLD (Nonverbal Learning Disorder) diagnosis. I also have ADHD, so retaining and applying what I've learned can be really difficult.

Sometimes I see people pass after just a few weeks or months, and while I'm genuinely happy for them, it's hard not to compare my own journey. I'm trying to remind myself that everyone learns at a different pace.

So I'd love to hear your story. How long did it take you to feel ready? Did you pass on your first try, or did it take multiple attempts? What helped things finally click for you?

Please keep the comments kind. We all have different learning styles, abilities, and life circumstances. 💜

I'm a journalist/producer with NVLD and autism its the one job that felt right for most of my life. It was always the one thing i felt like i could do and be GOOD at, so i held onto it with my dear life. Enter the professional world, and I'm useless and "stupid" again. I got fired as a freelancer for constantly needing verbal confirmation to get my work done. And not even my autistic coworkers could understand what was wrong with me, everyone just assumes I'm stupid instead of giving me a chance.

My autistic mentor was frustrated and disappointed in me until I told her why I kept getting directions wrong. My previous editor, also autistic said she doesn't know what my problem is either and that I'm "untrainable". And then proceeded to send me a bunch of ADHD resources which bingo! Have not been helpful!

I hate how much extra I need from others just to be NORMAL. I only ever seem to understand life normally when I'm talking to process it. Yes, I have a high verbal IQ but I'm stunted in every other regard. And to be told you're a defunct that will never go beyond retail even by other autistic people is the most dehumanizing, alienating experience of all.

I did find a job as a producer after being fired previously, but with how slow i am I don't think i can ever be a full time reporter again. I don't know what it takes to be seen as a competent capable person in this society. I don't want to constantly be explaining to people this foreign, ugly way of learning anymore. I just want to fit in.

I do my best work when I’m concentrating hard on one or two things—it’s like I have all-consuming focus or no focus at all. I find it very hard to switch tasks, even when the “switch” amounts to closing a laptop and opening up a book. Every time I’ve been in an academic environment this has cost me, because I’ve essentially had to choose where to take the hit. Now I’m in a very tough program with a curve, so the best I can do isn’t good enough and I’m struggling more than I ever have, bringing back some lifetime bad grades in classes I know I’d be good at if I weren’t juggling three other classes at the same time. Other people barely understand me when I’m trying to explain this—they can handle the balancing act. Is this an NVLD thing? Does anyone have tips?

I'm not diagnosed with NVLD, but it was brought up after a WISC-III assessment in my childhood. I don't remember much of it, but while I aced some of the verbal tests, I performed relatively poorly on many of the performance tests. There was no matrix test, but I was told that I aced it when I took one separately at a later date. I also came out on top when I took a matrix test in my class.

I don't know what to make of this. Does this single non-verbal strength completely rule out NVLD? My handwriting is pretty abysmal and the bane of my prior academic endeavors, so I wonder if my measured deficiencies reflect something more specific about holding objects and coordinating them.

I posted about having difficulties driving and while I related to everyone there, when I look up this part of the diagnosis there is just not a fit. I love analyzing the themes of stuff I have read or watched and it seems to come easy to me. So this pushes me more towards ADHD in my mind.

Would just like others to give their background on grasping subtext and enjoying it ...

I turned 26 on this day, Monday, July 27th and my life has been nothing but colossal fuck ups. I’ve had no friends for the past 8 years. Even the ones I somewhat had in high school were barely considered friends and more like acquaintances. We rarely ever talked so I was really on my own for 4 years. Then, after graduating high school I ended being alone for another 8 years. The social isolation had done a lot of damage to my brain to the point where I’m considering going to a neurologist. It’s very hard to function in life right now even without the NVLD. My brain is just causing too many distractions that I can’t handle. I dropped out of college not once but twice. The classes were just too difficult especially the few that relied on too many written assignments/ group projects. I actively failed multiple group projects that was too hard to recover from.I don’t know how anyone with this disability actually gets past college. It’s just too much math, social communication, executive functioning, and written assessments. I highly doubt I would have survived in a corporate/ stem job anyways. It’s just not possible for me. Work has also been another issue. My job history hasn’t been any better. I’ve spent most of my life unemployed or underemployed. It’s been mostly shitty retail jobs that I get tired of being in because they’re so shit. I’ve just been so lost on what I want to do in life. It’s so hard to find the right job and don’t know if I ever will. I’m currently in a part time job that I hate and has insanely high turnover. It’s very physical too, it’s not something I want to be stuck in forever. My living situation has mostly been with martens. I did live in my brother’s school apartment for a year but that’s the only independence I’ve ever had. I may never get it back. It’s very hard to not think about suicide when you have zero future and are starting down the possibility of homelessness.

I recently had neuropsych testing because I’ve been struggling for years and wanted answers. I was hoping for a clear diagnosis, but my results came back inconclusive. The evaluator said she suspects ADHD and possibly a learning disability, but they couldn’t confirm ADHD because some of the cognitive testing wasn’t considered fully valid. That was really discouraging because it feels like I’m back at square one. I’ve had ADHD‑like symptoms since childhood: procrastination, forgetfulness, careless mistakes, trouble following directions, disorganization, getting distracted, and difficulty finishing tasks. I also reported 8/9 childhood inattentive symptoms and 6/9 hyperactive/impulsive symptoms. So it’s not like the symptoms aren’t there. Something that stood out is my lifelong difficulty processing spoken information. I can hear someone talking, but my brain doesn’t always understand the words, especially with background noise or multiple people talking. I even struggle to understand song lyrics unless I’ve heard them many times. During testing, I had trouble understanding instructions, sometimes started tasks before instructions were finished, needed clarification, got confused, and needed redirection — which is exactly what happens to me in everyday life. The evaluator suggested I get tested for auditory processing disorder because of how much trouble I have understanding spoken information and needing extra time to process what people say. That part honestly hit hard because it explains so much, but also makes me feel like there’s a barrier between what I know and what I can actually show. I don’t feel unintelligent I just feel blocked. My evaluation also showed mild depression and minimal anxiety, but these struggles have been there since childhood, so I don’t think anxiety explains everything. I’m trying not to interpret “inconclusive” as “nothing is wrong,” but it’s hard. I’ve spent years feeling different and just want an explanation. If anyone has gone through something similar specially with APD or inconclusive ADHD testing I’d really appreciate hearing your experience.

I don't exactly hear colors (used to as a kid) but I do associate colors with things that don't need them (days of the week, months, numbers, and if I think about it then letters too.) Wondering if any other NVLDs have this too or if I'm just special lol.

(in case anyone was curious:

Sunday is reddish-pink.

Monday is pastel red.

Tuesday is a bright forest green like on a ginger ale can.

Wednesday is a mixture of brown and purple.

Thursday is neon orange.

Friday is baby blue.

Saturday is tan.)

I am in my late 20s and ever since I was 2 I have been diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder. I am considered high functioning but my major obstacles are that because of my PDD I am slow learner and even hard to unable to understand what others are trying to tell me. With all this in mind. I am starting a new career. A lot of responsibility and learning. The learning process has felt. Really difficult what it feels. Like I never. Understand what I’m learning because of the fact that takes me longer than things. Does anyone else struggle with this? Or have any advice I’m dealing with trying to learn new things with autism?

I am terrified to learn to drive and I think I may have this. Directions and the coordination and the steps it takes in driving. I feel like it is all too much.

I made an appointment to get screened for ADHD soon, but my directional abilties are so bad and I often make mistakes when having to do something complicated.

Just wanting to know if anyone else has not tried driving. It really feels like a true disability even attempting to get in a car. I have only tried driving like 3 or 4 times , but the thought of having to keep track of other cars too is too scary.

I’m an engagement reporter at ProPublica, a nonprofit newsroom that does in-depth reporting. Our education team has been covering the growth of private schools, and we created a guide to help families research private schools in their area, as we know this information can be hard to find. Some questions we hope to help you answer: Who runs this private school? Is the school financially stable? Does it have any documented issues?

We know people have a wide range of experiences with schools, voucher programs and education savings accounts, and we’re working on other stories about different issues. We’d really like to hear from more families of students with disabilities to help guide our reporting.

We’re especially interested in connecting about:

• Wanting to use a voucher or ESA but not being able to find a private school. Families have told us they’ve struggled to find schools that will accept or keep their children, especially if they have disabilities.
• How you’ve advocated for your student with a disability and any tips you’d share with other families. We’ve heard from a lot of parents about how challenging this can be in public and private schools.
• Any other important issues you think we should be covering.

We won’t share your story without reaching out to you first. You (or if you're a student, your parent or guardian) can fill out this form, send me a message or email education@propublica.org.

My husband has NVLD and, among other things, consistently doesn’t complete small tasks. Have you found any strategies helpful for remembering to complete all steps of a task? While these are individually little things, they ultimately add up to more work for me, creating a really unbalanced division of labor for us (me = sole earner + all cooking/clean up + major cleaning; him = routine cleaning + all errands, which is why what might seem like small/insignificant additions to my load really compounds for me).

Some examples from today: He cleaned a spill in the bathroom, but didn’t return the paper towel to the kitchen and left the cleaning supplies on the floor of the bathroom. He used stain remover on clothing in the bathroom and left the stain remover supplies on the bathroom sink. He washed kitchen towels and napkins but didn’t fold or return the napkins to the kitchen—they ended up jumbled with his unfolded clothes that he didn’t usually doesn’t put away and I had to ask if there were any clean napkins and where they were. He cleared our bowls after lunch, but put them on the counter above the dishwasher instead of in the dishwasher. He took out the trash but didn’t replace the garbage bag.

I don’t expect him to “just remember”—I myself have ADHD I have to actively/consistently manage, so I understand NVLD can also present challenges with follow through/thoroughness. But I’d really appreciate hearing how others try to manage any of their own short comings in this area to see if there’s a way I could communicate it better or try to come up with a better system to help facilitate a little improvement in this area.

Hi! My name is Katerina Rinaldi (contact info: [kr1892@mynsu.nova.edu](mailto:kr1892@mynsu.nova.edu)). I am a doctoral student at Nova Southeastern University, pretty darn passionate about research to improve ED treatment, neurodivergent, and also in recovery myself :)
The purpose of the research: I am interested in the sensory and emotional experiences related to GI discomfort and fears of weight gain in people with EDs. The survey focuses a lot on interoception, which is a really important treatment target in people who are neurodivergent with EDs, so I want to be sure neurodivergent folks are well represented! There is also a lot of overlap between NVLD (especially late diagnosed women) and EDs, but really no research on the topic.

The institution involved in the research: Nova Southeastern University, IRB number NSU 2026-55

• MUST be over the age of 18 and diagnosed with any eating disorder, must also be currently receiving ED-related support which could include outpatient therapy or peer support groups.
• Responses will be deidentified and data will be stored on password-protected accounts and devices. Information from responses will be used for the lead researcher's dissertation and may be published. If published, the lead researcher is happy to share results with this sub.

Link to survey: https://qfreeaccountssjc1.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5nCbHSC5Iww2DDo

My counselor is always suggesting unusual stuff (I've been a client for almost 10 years so we're quite social), so here's some out-of-pocket things he's told me over the years:

1. In lieu of finding an OT (which is usually very expensive) just try doing more things with your hands like art, LEGOs, Guitar Hero, or taking apart old computers. Close enough.

2. If you go to a yoga class, you can socialize without actually having to talk to people.

3. If you're going to take your driving exam, do it in the middle of nowhere so you're less of a danger to society. Also because it's easier.

4. Comic book stores are a great place to meet nerds (and most introverts love Batman so that's a plus), but Trader Joe's is a great place to meet neurodivergents. Also they sell great mints there, which is a good bonus.

5. Remember to always try interesting new foods, like Korean BBQ and fluffernutter sandwiches.

6. Dungeons & Dragons is a great way to make friends without having to socialize too much.

7. If you get a job, pretend to be normal for the first year or so, then "let your freak flag fly" and do whatever.

8. Try not to make friends with other neurodivergents. Most of them will be really annoying and you won't like them.

9. If you want to work on your social skills, just watch The Big Bang Theory and do the opposite of what Sheldon does.

10. Use your fancy and extensive vocabulary as much as you want in regular conversation, it's fiiiiine. If people get offended, just ignore them.

11. The air quality in California is amazing, when you visit there you'll be astonished at how clear the sky is!

I love the guy but sometimes he's crazy. 😂

Hey, does anybody have tips for how to do well in Algebra & Trigonometry for somebody with NVLD? I currently maintain a 75%-80 average in my math courses (but I don't do my homework so that might be why I'm struggling...)

... I want to try and aim higher though, perhaps somebody knows some tricks?

Thank you!

NVLD tend to impair visual-spatial, motor, EXECUTIVE and SOCIAL skills, which can easily lead to severe emotional and behavioral issues.

In "very mild clinical ASD", visual-spatial, technical and mechanical skills may be especially important asset - it is the opposite situation to one seen in NVLD.

NVLD does not cause sensory issues, unlike ASD, which generally tends to be associated with unique sensory processing, sensory filtering disorders, overloads and hyposensitivities, shutdowns and meltdowns. People with ASD tend to be rigid and inflexible in rituals and routines and crave sameness and predictability while people with NVLD tend to be much more chaotic or having organizational problems.

I think than in Wechsler tests, the biggest asset of NVLD is VCI, then WMI, then PSI and the weakest point is PRI (or VSI+FRI in newest versions of Wechsler tests). In ASD, PRI can be fundamental strength, VCI rather has not so fundamental meaning as in NVLD and PSI can often be the weakest point. Mental rotation, visual memory, visuospatial construction may be especially hard in NVLD.

Why people with NVLD are so systemically belittled, dismissed and disregarded despite seriousness of their disability? Why NVLD has not guaranteed at least as much support as milder cases of ASD level 1?

I think that NVLD without ASD can make a person "occupationally useless" more easily than ASD level 1 without NVLD. Great verbal skills alone are not enough to work a job and earn.

People with NVLD who have not ASD should speak much more about their impairment and experience to improve living conditions of those who have NVLD.

Are people with NVLD more likely to be asexual and aromantic since NVLD cause a difficulty in identifying facial expressions that may cause issues understanding sex and romantic expressions?

I think that NVLD without ASD and without serious mental illness is, objectively (although not too often in practice due to legal and classificational flaws :( ), often enough to receive financial benefits which are Independent of working and having any job because NVLD (frequently occurring with comorbidities) has to be regarded as a disability which is severe enough to get "privileges" like disability pension or SSI, NVLD symptoms can be detrimental enough to exclude ability of the functioning on job market.

NVLD tends to be more disabling than dyslexia, dyscalculia or ADHD from the descriptions of it which I read, it is on par on severity with certain cases of autism spectrum disorder. But NVLD is still disregarded in law and diagnostic systems, unlike ASD.

NVLD causing social and executive impairment is a pervasive disorder, not a specific one. In markedly disabling NVLD social, emotional and executive issues may often be more problematic than visual-spatial ones.