By Diane Wagner, BA, Grad. Dip. Child Study, LD@school LD Expert
The term Nonverbal Learning Disabilities (NVLD) is used to describe a cluster of difficulties that primarily affect non-language areas. The article What are Nonverbal Learning Disabilities describes some common features and the progression of difficulties in students with NVLDs.
Click here to read the article What are Nonverbal Learning Disabilities?.
In the classroom, there are several instructional strategies and interventions that educators may employ, which are reflected in the following tips.
Tips for the Classroom
1. Explain things orally – Students with NVLDs tend to learn and remember things best by using words. They often need a language-based system to sort out how to organize information. Many have very strong verbal skills and can use these to compensate well for their visual-spatial weaknesses.
2. Manage the environment – Students with NVLDs need predictable schedules as much as possible. They need preparation for changes in routines and to be given notice that they are about to be asked to make a transition in activities. They need advance planning and instruction about unfamiliar tasks and situations.
3. Teach explicitly – Students with NVLDs need to be explicitly taught details such as: how to organize and carry out tasks, what is expected in different social, family, and school situations; how others feel, etc.
4. Teach steps, one at a time – Directly teach problem-solving methods and frequently check for levels of understanding. Model use of self-talk as a strategy.
5. Recognize that uncooperative behaviour may be the result of feeling confused, anxious and overwhelmed – Consider assigning a safe place for the student when he or she is feeling overwhelmed.
6. Some students may require referral for social skills training or counselling- This is especially true as they approach adolescence, in collaboration with their family.
Bibliography
Amerongen, M. Tips: The View from Within: Understanding Nonverbal Learning Disabilities. Retrieved from http://www.childdevelop.ca/programs/integra-program/resources.
SNOW. Materials developed for the Learning Disabilities Workshop on the SNOW website. Retrieved from http://www.snow.idrc.ocad.ca.
Related Resources on the LD@school Website
Click here to access the article What are Nonverbal LDs?.
Click here to access the article Social Skills Training (SST) for Students with LDs.
Click here to access the article Promoting Social and Emotional Competence Through Mindfulness.
Additional Ressources
Subscribe to the LD@school newsletter
Stay connected with evidence- and practice-informed
resources designed for the classroom.
Powered by LDAO
LD@school is a signature initiative of the Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario (LDAO), a registered charity and provincial leader in evidence-informed, inclusive, and accessible education.
For over 60 years, LDAO has supported children, youth, and adults with learning disabilities (LDs) and related conditions such as ADHD.
Explore LDAO’s signature platforms:
TA@l’école – French-language resources and professional learning for educators that integrate evidence-informed instruction with equity, identity, and belonging.
LD@home – Family-focused tools and guidance that strengthen partnerships between home and school.
LD@work – Resources supporting transition, self-advocacy, career development, and workplace inclusion.
LD@learning – Online courses and professional learning for individuals supporting learners with LDs and ADHD.
© 2026 Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario (LDAO).
This resource may be used and shared within educational settings for non-commercial purposes. It may not be modified or used for commercial gain. See LDAO.ca for full Terms of Use.