NLD and Hand-Eye Coordination/ Slower Reflexes
[2:48] So, I would also like to thank the NVLD project for the welcome ambassador package that they sent me this week. It contained a NVLD water bottle that has their logo on it and says, “count me in” and has their website which is NVLD.org on there and it had a little canvas bag–tote– that you– is reusable, which I love reusable things, and it had their logo on the outside of that as well. Had another T-shirt for them and then it had a little fold out pop up thing that was paper that had each of their NVLD hands with their logo, the orange, the red, the pink, the turquoise, um, and the purple I think was the other color. And just explained what NVLD is and also their mission with NVLD and, um, some other things that they do. And actually, I would like to take some time to read that to you because I thought that was very well done.
[4:07] So, underneath “What NVLD is,” it says, “people with NVLD or, nonverbal learning disability, struggle with a range of conditions that include social and spatial disabilities. Often they are marginalized and isolated. Consequently, they can experience social barriers throughout their lives.” That was the pink hand.
[4:30] And then the turquoise one “Founder’s Inspiration,” “The NVLD project was inspired by my daughter who was diagnosed with Nonverbal learning disability at the age of five. My daughter’s unwavering determination encouraged and inspired me to create a supportive and inclusive community to help children, adolescents, and adults with NVLD.” That’s from the founder of the NVLD Project, Laura Lemme who has a PhD.
[5:01] The purple hand, “The NVLD Project,” “The NVLD Project envisions a world where those with Nonverbal Learning Disability can receive a helping hand, live their lives to the fullest, and are free of any stigmatization. Our main goal is to secure an official diagnosis for NVLD, specifically, to gain recognition for its– as a valid disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental disorders– DSM. At the NVLD project we are dedicated to raising awareness and funds so that those who have NVLD are understood and counted-in on life. We accomplish this through a variety of programs including educational workshops,” experiment–sorry, “expert research, and ongoing advocacy.”
[5:55] And the orange hand helps a life– sorry– “Help change a life, Donate. Please support our efforts to create helpful” chall-sorry– “helpful solutions for children and adults with Nonverbal learning disability. To donate or learn more please visit www.NVLD.org or contact us, The NVLD project: 1777 East 87th street Suite 501, New York, New York, 10128. Their phone number 122-507-4906 also put that in the podcast description for you and I’ll put the link to their website in there as well.
[6:47] But I thought that little pop-out, and I say it’s a pop out because it unfolds, is very well done and um, it, you know, it just describes what they do and who they are and what they try to do for people with NVLD. And I say try because sometimes it can be hard to do things for people with NVLD depending on what it is and um ,where you live and what you’re trying to accomplish, um, like I know with the DSM piece, I think they’ve been working on that for a while. It was in the DSM originally but it was taken out because no one agreed upon the definition of NLD and they think it will be back in the DSM in a couple years. Um, which will be really good because then more people can get help.
[7:45] So, thank you NVLD project for the package that you sent me for being an ambassador, or becoming an ambassador I should say, and um, I look forward to working with you guys.
[8:02] Hello, so today’s episode will be on NLD and hand-eye coordination, also slower reflexes. Do you ever have challenges with hand-eye coordination? Or have slower reflexes than other people th– you know? I know I have a little of both. We’ll be discussing these topics today.
[8:26] Here’s an article titled “What is a Nonverbal Learning Disability?” By Jane Hauser written on September 16, 2019, from NESCA. It explains NLD and coordination. Quote, “The right side of the brain is responsible for the collection and integration of multiple sources of information, particularly sensory information, lending to an organized” in quotes, “‘big picture’ understanding of events or information. The right brain is thus not only important for basic visual processing and reasoning, but it is also responsible for the organization and coordination of information and skills across a wide range of domains,” coordination of information and skills– oh sorry– “domains including learning, motor coordination, self-regulation” for example, “sensory regulation and attention, social thinking, and task management. As such, the word learning with the ‘Nonverbal Learning Disability’” in quotes, “title is somewhat of a misnomer, as NLD can impact functioning across most any domain. Motor Integration. Individuals with NLD demonstrate some level of motor integration or coordination difficulties. This may involve fine motor skills,” for example poor wr- “handwriting and spacing on the page, difficulty tying shoes and using utensils, et cetera, gross motor skills,” for example, “clumsiness, awkwardness when running, poor hand-eye coordination, et cetera, or both. Most often, individuals with NLD have appropriate motor strength, but they struggle to appropriately integrate and manage their movements within space and present” de- “demands. This may also correspond to difficulties with directionality and finding their way around, causing them to get lost easily,” end quote.
[10:57] This article does a good job of explaining why one with NLD might have a hard time with hand and eye coordination and may be clumsy. My level of clumsiness has decreased in my life as I’ve been more active. Once I started to do Aikido, a Japanese martial art, self-defense martial art I should say, it was easier for me to fall properly when skiing. I fell more loosely than rigid and tight. Consequently, I had never broken a bone. Once I started cross-country running I was able to be more careful with my footing and improve my balance.
[11:43] When I started to jump and play– sorry, jump rope, and play jacks this year my reflexes started to get a little faster. Also when I am practicing catching things like balls or keys it’s easier now than it used to be. This has helped me with driving too. It’s very important to have fast reflexes when you’re driving. Because it can save your life and someone else’s.
[12:17] Another article from the NVLD Project titled “NVLD and Lifelong Challenges,” by Eileen who is “grateful for all the support” she has. Quote, “For example, many with an NVLD can’t do their hair nor can they put makeup on by themselves as the level of spatial and fine motor skills required” to do that “is beyond their ability. This can be challenging especially during their teenage years and it can make them feel self-conscious and send the message to others that they don’t care as much about their appearances which is not true. In addition, blow-drying their hair can take twice as long, and often not all of your hair is dry, as the hand-eye coordination required for it is often too much and you may end up going to school with all of your hair dry except a big spot you have missed,” end quote.
[13:27] Luckily, I don’t have to wear makeup. I’m not very good at hair blow-drying or styling my own hair. That’s why I prefer to let it air dry. I did have a meltdown recently this year. And I did a podcast episode about styling my hair and I talked about that meltdown in episode 52 if you wanna go to that and listen to that. And, I’m also lucky that with my hair, it’s naturally curly. I don’t have to style it that much. I really can just sleep with it wet and it curls itself. So, I am very fortunate with that. And, the reason I don’t need makeup, which I’m fortunate for that as well, is I have very clear skin and I was born with that because of my genes, and um, I’m not bragging about that, just stating a fact, and um, I rarely get a pimple so I’m fortunate for that as well.
[14:40] So, here are some tips on how to try to make the coordination and slower reflexes better. You can try to make the coordination and difficulties of NLD not so difficult for you in your life so your life is easier. And the following article talks about that.
[14:59] Here’s another article from the NVLD Project titled “The Dark Ages of NVLD,” by Bill who is a “68 years old retired IT professional who was diagnosed with NVLD at age 49.” Quote, “I ended up – sorry, “my elementary school years on a powerful note, as I slammed a home-run in the annual 5th grade vs. 6th-grade softball, helping us 6-graders to a victory. I was on the A squad which itself was an achievement for me. I was and still am somewhat clumsy. I remember as a 9- or 10-year-old, trying to execute a somersault in my room, falling to the side instead of moving straight ahead. But besides reading, sports were my main interest, I was lucky that I had a dad who was athletic, and drilled me in baseball fundamentals. My hand-eye coordination was good enough to turn me into a pretty good baseball player as a kid coupled with this strong interest, much practice and good training so I was able to tap down NLD’s limitations,” end quote.
[16:23] When I talked about my level of clumsiness decreasing and reflexes improving earlier in this episode, part of me doubted that would ever happen in my life, because I have a hard time believing in myself sometimes. But I’ve tried working on that more this past year and since I’ve graduated from college. When I was a senior in college I wasn’t sure if I was going to graduate but it was the belief from my family, especially my mom, that carried me through to the end of the year to graduation. Also putting my cap and gown on occasionally helped too. It was so close that I could taste and feel it, and what it was like to touch it. But I didn’t know what it would be like or how it would feel until I would walk confidently across that stage of my life.
[17:21] Now when I have issues with believing in myself I remind myself of how far I have come since graduation, which was more than 3 years ago. Doesn’t seem like that sometimes though. I remind myself of all my accomplishments and what I’ve learned from my mistakes. This helps me to– have more self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-trust. [drinks water] I also say to myself when I’m having a hard time believing I can do something, “I can do this!” I also take a deep breath before saying that and sometimes I say it more than once.
[18:03] As I wrap up, I would like for you to know that there are NVLDers out there with hand-eye coordination and slower reflexes challenges, today. I would love to hear from you about your hand-eye coordination and slower reflexes issues. Please comment on livingwithnld.com, or youtube. Or email me about them at livingwithnld@gmail.com. If you also want to learn more about this topic, or something that relates to this topic, go to episode 9 which is on sports. And, that will go with the hand-eye coordination because sports has a lot of coordination and being able to do sports well is tricky when you have NLD because of the fine motor skills and falling down alot and being clumsy usually, and um, and trying to be active with NLD can be tricky because of that. Um, hope you learned something new and enjoyed today’s episode. Talk to you next Friday.
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