THE 2018 NVLD CONSENSUS MEETING
In October 2018, the NVLD Project sponsored our second two-day conference, led by Dr. Prudence Fisher, at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) in an effort to prepare a proposal for inclusion of NVLD in the DSM. The conference included leaders in NVLD, ASD, and the child psychiatry field from around the world.
The purpose of this meeting was to finalize the diagnostic criteria, discuss research findings and strategize about the next steps. The group decided to change the name NVLD to "Developmental Visual-Spacial Disorder (Non-Verbal Learning Disability)."
The reasons for the name change are:
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The name Non-Verbal Learning Disability is confusing to those who are not familiar with NVLD. Often, people think that those with NVLD are mute. Naming something by what it is not can be misleading.
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It is thought that the DSM committee might be more likely to accept the new name and would firmly establish the disorder in the chapter of Neurodevelopmental Disorders. This is the same chapter where ASD, Specific Learning Disorders, and ADHD are found.
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It will differentiate NVLD from other learning disorders which are conceptualized as Academic Skills Disorder.
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It was agreed that the core deficit/defining feature is visual-spatial. All other symptomsexperienced (such as social difficulties, academic and organizational problems, etc.) are not unique to NVLD and overlap with other DSM disorders.
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— Published on Nov 20th, 2018
