Jimmy is left confused about why he received such an angry response, not knowing what to expect from his interpersonal interactions. As the world of social relationships becomes more complex, the child with NVLD may become more confused and often more withdrawn. Not only do they have difficulty discerning the nonverbal social cues, they also struggle with organizing all of the information into a meaningful whole. Since they feel incompetent within the social arena, they will stay away from that area of incompetence, thereby depriving themselves of further practice. Children with NVLD will struggle with picture puzzles and how the pieces fit together.
Social information is more abstract and quickly changing than pulling together puzzles.
Lacking the ability to form this information into meaningful patterns, the child's sense of self and other is concrete and fragmented. He feels that children with NVLD may be able to discern the meaning of social communications but miss the emotional strength of these communications. These children struggle with managing the intensity of their own feelings and with judging the intensity of the feelings of others. They can be easily overwhelmed by their feelings and then, in turn, easily overwhelm others. They are a challenge for parents, teachers, and others who are often confused as to how to respond, resulting in the child feeling more alone and confused.