Ashima Sharda Mahindra • 24 Aug 2024
What Is the Non-Verbal Learning Disorder Tim Walz's Teenage Son Gus Has? Know All About The Visual And Spatial Disability
The 17-year-old stood up and said, “That’s my dad,” later adding, “I love you, Dad.”
Gus Walz – the son of Minnesota governor Tim Walz – who officially adopted the vice-presidential nomination during the Democratic National Convention stole the show when he came forward to support his father after he made a speech. The 17-year-old stood up and said, “That’s my dad,” later adding, “I love you, Dad.”
Tim and his wife, Gwen had earlier revealed that Gus was diagnosed with nonverbal learning disability as a teenager. According to research, at least 3 million children in the United States are living with nonverbal learning disability, or NVLD, which affects a person’s spatial-visual skills.
According to experts, the number of people who receive a diagnosis is likely much smaller than those living with the disability. Known to be extremely intelligent and articulate, they are clumsy with motor and spatial coordination.
What is a nonverbal learning disability?
Mental health experts say nonverbal learning disability is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by difficulties with visual-spatial processing, executive functioning, mathematical concepts, fine motor skills, and social skills.
Those with the disability typically do not have difficulty in areas such as reading, decoding language, spelling, vocabulary, or factual recall; however, they do have issues with visual, spatial, or tactile perception. Experts say that even though nonverbal learning disability is not recognized as an official diagnosis, it is estimated that more than 5 per cent of people with learning difficulties have this condition globally.
Which areas of difficulty are associated with a nonverbal learning disability?
According to doctors, those with nonverbal learning disabilities may have difficulty in a few areas:
Visual and Spatial Awareness
Any child or adolescent with a nonverbal learning disability may have issues while processing visual imagery. Experts say it happens because they may not be able to accurately perceive the elements properly. As a result, they can also be clumsy or physically awkward.
Comprehension
Most of those with this disability have difficulty in understanding greater issues of high-order comprehension – meaning problems in understanding the nitty-gritties of things they are either reading or writing.
Mathematical concepts
Children with nonverbal learning disabilities are good at rote learning and may also do well in the early stages of math, but they eventually struggle as the subject becomes more challenging. According to experts, most are not able to understand and recognize patterns or apply advanced concepts.
Social skills
Those who have the disability may struggle to read nonverbal cues of communication like facial expressions and body language. Experts say unlike other kids of their age, these children will not be able to pick up on social cues and may not be aware of what is going on in the interaction.
Signs and symptoms of nonverbal learning disorder
A few signs and symptoms of nonverbal learning disabilities may have difficulty with the following tasks
- Holding a pencil properly
- Tying shoelaces
- Using scissors
- Throwing a ball
- Riding a bike
- Avoiding bumping into things
- Staying focused on a task
- Planning any task
- Staying organized
- Taking notes
- Drawing geometric shapes
- Solving math problems
- Reading facial expressions and body language
- Understanding humor, idioms, and sarcasm
What causes nonverbal learning disorder?
According to experts, nonverbal learning disorder is classified as a neurodevelopmental condition that stems from a dysfunction in the right hemisphere of the brain. There are genetic abnormalities in the brain that can hamper the transmission of neurological signals - resulting in the symptoms of this condition.
Nonverbal learning disability is therefore characterized by difficulty with right-brain tasks and relative ease with left-brain tasks.
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