Does Chris Rock have NVLD? (+5 Celebs with LD)
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The current blogpost will be answering if Chris Rock has NVLD. Furthermore, we will also be checking out the signs and symptoms of NVLD and the various treatment methods which are available. In addition to this, we will also be looking at some other celebrities who have LD.
Does Chris Rock have NVLD?
Yes, Chris Rock has NVLD. In 2020, the comedian publicly announced that he has been diagnosed with NVLD or Non-Verbal Learning Disorder. Chris Rock went through nine hours of testing before he was diagnosed.
The testing and diagnosis came as a result of a friend of Chris Rock suggesting that he might have Asperger’s syndrome. However, the test results clearly declared that the actor has Non-Verbal Learning Disorder, as a result of which non-verbal communication may not be clear.
The comedian turned actor also mentioned that he is often known to take an ‘all or nothing’ route when it comes to understanding what others are saying to him. As a result, he has experienced difficulties in terms of relationships on a one-on-one basis.
Signs and symptoms of NVLD
NVLD is not classified as a disorder according to DSM or the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. However, it is still recognized as a learning disability in schools and educational institutions. Some of the signs and symptoms of NVLD are:
- Problems in physical coordination
- Difficulty in understanding context
- Problems in understanding cues in social situations
- Difficulty in solving math problems
- Illegible handwriting
- Difficulty in understanding sarcasm in others
- Problems in understanding spatial relationships
- Difficulty in task-management
Types of treatment for NVLD
The signs and symptoms of NVLD can differ from person to person and thus, the treatment modes for this learning disability can also vary. The main types of treatment which are available for NVLD have been described in the following section.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy can be a great solution for numerous problems that NVLD can present in a person, particularly a child. Through Occupational Therapy, physical balance and coordination can be improved.
Along with these skills, fine motor skills can also be improved through the use of therapy and also through certain accommodations. Occupational Therapy can also help those with NVLD adapt to daily problems in ADL or Activities of Daily Living.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can be especially helpful for adults who are living with NVLD. NVLD can cause a person to be depressed and anxious about social situations. Furthermore, their self-esteem may also be drastically low due to their bad experiences with others.
Therefore, many adults who live with NVLD may have negative self-talk and negative views about themselves. Through CBT, the person can improve their thought processes and also improve their self-esteem and confidence.
Social Skills Training
Social-skill training is definitely mandated for those who have been diagnosed with NVLD, especially children. NVLD can cause people to misunderstand social concepts and social norms, making it hard for them to make friends.
Through social skills groups, children can learn how to positively interact with others through the use of modeling or the use of cues from the therapist. There is no single social skills group protocol to be conducted and each therapist may have their own way.
Using coping strategies as a parent
Apart from the techniques which have been explained above, certain coping strategies can be used at home by the parent of the child. If your child has been diagnosed with NVLD, you can use the following ways to help them manage their day to day activities.
- NVLD can cause problems in time-management. As a result, your child may be lagging behind in their homework or their other chores. To make it easier for them to understand time, you can use a large time-table or planner that you can color-code for clarity.
- If your child is finding it hard to understand their lessons at school, you can ask their teacher if it is okay to record the classes. This can be particularly useful if your child is more of an audio-learner than a visual learner.
- Writing can be a challenge for most children with NVLD, up to the point where it can even cause immense anxiety. Instead of having to write down things, you can encourage your child to type it out. Most schools also make provisions or accommodations for this.
- Words are highly important for someone who has been diagnosed with NVLD, since they will find it hard to understand and appropriately respond to emotions and gestures. To communicate with your child better, use more words.
- Children with NVLD may often ask tons of questions. This is not to irritate you on purpose but because they don’t understand something. You can try to reach an agreement with your child about the number of questions that they are allowed to ask at a time.
- Certain activities, which seem absolutely normal for anyone, can bring a lot of anxiety for someone with NVLD. If you are noticing that your child is getting anxious, encourage them to take a sensory break from the activity.
- Sudden changes in situations can make it very difficult to adjust for someone who has NVLD, particularly children. In these situations, you can prepare your child beforehand by telling them about the plan or the activity so that they know what’s next.
Practice advocacy as an adult
If you are an adult with NVLD, you might find that certain situations, like work, can be unnecessarily frustrating and challenging for you. You need to make sure that you practice standing up for yourself and demanding accommodations.
For instance, NVLD requires a lot of time to destress especially after a long day at work. And thus, after-work parties and gatherings may need to be avoided altogether. You can ask your supervisor to make such attendances optional for you.
You can also ask if you can work from home, since working in a large group can be pretty frustrating if you have NVLD. To make things easier for you, you can also ask that your work be explained to you in a step by step manner.
Celebrities with LD
Apart from Chris Rock, there are many other celebrities who have been diagnosed with some type of learning disorder or the other, such as dyslexia. A few celebrities who have been openly living with LD are listed below.
- Tom Cruise: Tom Cruise is definitely one of the most popular celebrities who have been open about his learning disorder. The celebrity was diagnosed with dyslexia during childhood, but this has not stopped him from going on to become such a big star.
- Keanu Reeves: Keanu Reeves is loved by all for his kindness and transparency. The actor has been living with dyslexia but has found acting to be a great way to cope with the disorder after struggling with it throughout school.
- Cher: Cher is another example of a celebrity who was diagnosed with dyslexia well into adulthood. The singer was diagnosed with dyslexia after her son Chaz was diagnosed. Along with dyslexia, Cher has also been diagnosed with dyscalculia.
- Whoopi Goldberg: Whoopi Goldberg who rose to fame after starring in movies like ‘The Color Purple’ and ‘Sister Act’, was actually called ‘dumb’ when she was in school. With the support of her mother, Goldberg managed to rise to stardom.
- Orlando Bloom: Orlando Bloom was diagnosed with a learning disorder when he was a child. With reading a difficult chore for him, Bloom decided to try his hand at acting when he was looking for a creative outlet.
Conclusion
The current blogpost has answered if Chris Rock has NVLD. Furthermore, we have also checked out the signs and symptoms of NVLD and the various treatment methods which are available. In addition to this, we have also looked at some other celebrities who have LD.
If you like this blogpost, please leave your comments and questions in the space below.
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