Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NVLD) is often described as a difficulty in ‘seeing the big picture.’ In my daily life, this trait manifests itself in very concrete ways—both on my plate and in my headphones.
For a long time, when I saw my friends, family, and coworkers genuinely enjoying a burger or a complex salad, I wondered: ‘Why don’t I enjoy this as much as they do? Is something wrong with me?’ People have often asked me why I prefer my hot dog plain, with just the bun and the sausage, or how I can find something as simple as plain pasta or plain hollandaise sauce enjoyable. I never really knew how to explain it. I often feel lost and overwhelmed when faced with too many textures or ingredients at once. For me, mixing ingredients doesn’t create a new, harmonious flavor; instead, it creates confusion. It tastes good, but the more things are mixed, the more I lose the ability to identify what I am eating.
Once, while I was eating an Oikos yogurt, my coworker asked me why I didn’t mix the fruit at the bottom. I honestly replied: “I didn’t even know we were supposed to mix it. The image on the box shows the fruit on top, so I just follow that visual.” She then asked if I didn’t find the fruit part too sour on its own, and I simply answered: “Not at all.” Next morning, my coworkers made me taste the mixed version, and I found myself wondering: “Where is the fruit?”
In certain contexts and at events such as Christmas dinner, I’ve found that it’s worth setting my preferences aside to prioritize being part of the group and eating the meal as it’s served to share the moment. In my daily life, I have learned to enjoy mixing my food, but my instinct will always be to keep my ingredients separate.
Finally, this pattern seems to repeat itself in my musical tastes. Regardless of the genre—whether it’s opera, jazz, or pop—I prefer it when the voices and instruments remain distinct and identifiable; otherwise, it feels as if I am only hearing a wall of indistinguishable sounds.
Rosalie
Hello! I am Rosalie, a 30-year-old from Canada. I was diagnosed with a Nonverbal Learning Disorder at the age of 17.
