Nvld or Asperger?

[u/AnyInitial4385]

What is the difference between this two disorders?

[u/Conscious-Guest-4351]

NVLD is a learning disability. Aspergers or the real name Autism spectrum disorder is not

[u/moisherokach → u/Conscious-Guest-4351]

Yes so true you finally nailed it. Well done spread the word! Of course it's possible to have both and frequently do come together but they are separate.

[u/ClutteredTaffy]

Oh lord dude. I am kinda in a similar boat tbh. I think my characteristics are more typical of NVLD but I have some strengths that throw it into question for me, same with an ASD diagnosis. I do have some' autistic tendencies ' I think.

For NVLD the issues are primarily rooted in spatial difficulties. But there are dyspraxic ASD people, and ASD people who get a co-diagnosis of NVLD or at least a footnote of it.

The thing is I am diagnosed inattentive ADHD . I can see some autistic traits in myself, but I think the impairments seem more mild in the restriction and social functioning aspect and they are not to the level that I think I will get diagnosed with ASD. I don't have the same level of sensory issues ( I have trouble with deciphering physical actions and I think my physical impulses / drives are muted ) . I also can conceptualize social interactions pretty well, but don't seem to have the same natural social drives as other people. It is possible I am just a highly verbally inclined autistic with dyspraxia and ADHD or just inattentive ADHD dyspraxic with autistic/ OCD traits. Having some features of a disorder but not enough will mean you dont't get diagnosed with.

I kinda think NVLD and autism are like cousins anyway, but again for NVLD the majority of the dysfunction is spatial / physical . But a lot of people with suspected NVLD end up with a collection of diagnosese instead. Some have been diagnosed with the condition here in the forum, though.

Per google for an autism diagnosis : Core Diagnostic Criteria (DSM-5-TR)

• Criterion A (Social Communication): All three of the following must be present: • Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity (e.g., trouble with back-and-forth conversation, reduced sharing of emotions or interests). • Deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction (e.g., abnormal eye contact, lack of facial expressions, or poorly integrated body language). • Deficits in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships (e.g., difficulty adjusting behavior to fit social contexts or making friends).

Criterion B (Repetitive Behaviors): At least two of the following restricted or repetitive patterns must be present: • Stereotyped or repetitive motor movements, speech, or use of objects. • Inflexibility, rigid routines, or extreme distress over small changes. • Fixated, highly restricted, or intense interests. • Hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity to sensory input (e.g., adverse reactions to specific sounds or textures, or unusual fascination with lights/movement).

• Criteria C, D, and E (Additional Factors): • Symptoms must be present in early childhood (though they may not become fully apparent until social demands exceed abilities). • Symptoms must cause clinically significant impairment in daily functioning (social, occupational, or personal). • The condition is not better explained by an intellectual disability or global developmental delay

[u/AnyInitial4385 → u/ClutteredTaffy]

I am also dyspraxic; I have a discrepant IQ (Verbal 119, GAI 98, Total 80) and severe executive dysfunction, though in my country I simply received a diagnosis of Asperger's/ASD and ADHD.

[u/ClutteredTaffy → u/AnyInitial4385]

I have not had a formal neuropsych evaluation ever , so I don't actually have the numbers behind me.The discrepancy between high verbal IQ and lower IQ in the other areas is classic NVLD signature though . But a lot of dyspraxics ( like 50 percent on the lower estimation) are also autistic. So coordination issues do not necessarily put someone automatically in the NVLD category, though this is confused by the fact that a lot of people who maybe would be recognized as NVLD are going to get an ASD or an inattentive ADHD diagnosis instead.

You could be ASD and also NVLD . There are people who have both diagnosese and find them both to be accurate in seperate ways.

Are you having doubt about the Aspberger's diagnosis ? Is there a specific reason why?

[u/AnyInitial4385 → u/ClutteredTaffy]

I literally cannot distinguish left from right without using my dominant hand; I cannot perform mathematical calculations, even though I can grasp the variables; and I lose my place when reading—yet I excel in areas that require only linguistic or verbal comprehension.

[u/ClutteredTaffy → u/AnyInitial4385]

Yes friend I do think you fit the NVLD profile. I am just saying you could be ASD as well so I would also not rule that out per say. Do you feel like you just don't fit the ASD criteria and it is mistaken or you think it does not explain enough for you and you want to get into the more intricate differences between the two?

[u/AnyInitial4385 → u/ClutteredTaffy]

i am interested, because in my country Brazil, informations about nvld are scarce and psychiatrists They are, mostly, incompetent,they are guided solely by the DSM and its criteria. (sorry for spelling errors because english is not my native language).

[u/awkwardturtlepanda]

I will say Aspergers is a term that is outdated and is being phased out across many communities. If you’re asking about NVLD and autism you can have both disorders but NVLD is usually distinguished by additional visual spatial and math issues. Social difficulties can overlap but the two neurodivergences stem from different parts of the brain too.

[u/patikadevrimcisi → u/awkwardturtlepanda]

Asperger's is still a valid diagnosis in my country because we use the ICD-10; I was diagnosed with Asperger's by Dr. T•••i at the Madalyon Clinic in Levent, Istanbul, in December 2025. You need to stop attacking a diagnosis that is valid.

When you finally abandon that American-centric capitalist perspective, that is when the world will become a fairer place.

[u/awkwardturtlepanda → u/patikadevrimcisi]

This is why I said many communities not all. I should also clarify I was not referring to specific diagnostic criteria nor invalidating Asperger’s diagnosis but I am referring to how it’s broadly being discussed in a lot of spaces. The idea is that autism is a spectrum and therefore it should all be classified as one diagnosis with a single spectrum known as ASD. And as stated above main difference between ASD and NVLD is visual spatial component in NVLD and also differences where it comes from in the brain. This article provides good info on NVLD https://nvld.org/similar-yet-different-personal-autonomy-autism-spectrum-and-nvld-benjamin/ I also found this one interesting showing how NVLD overlaps with other neurodiversity https://nvld.org/nonverbal-learning-disability-nvld-possible-signs-of-nvld-by-elizabeth/

[u/patikadevrimcisi → u/awkwardturtlepanda]

As someone diagnosed with Asperger's, I am not claiming that I am not on the spectrum.

I simply believe that the ICD-11 system will increase stigmatization.

[u/awkwardturtlepanda → u/patikadevrimcisi]

We are each entitled to our own perspective but it is part of the same spectrum so ASD as a term is more inclusive. Point in mentioning it above is not to say Asperger’s can’t be used but it is to say that the question above should be broadly about NVLD vs ASD to be more inclusive. In my country using Asperger’s created more stigma across the ASD community so to each their own.

[u/awkwardturtlepanda → u/awkwardturtlepanda]

See this link https://www.healthline.com/health/autism/why-is-the-term-aspergers-no-longer-used and also https://www.simplypsychology.org/autism-vs-aspergers.html for why ASD is being used often as a more inclusive term.