The Prevalence of Nonverbal Learning Disorder in Female Students

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of nonverbal learning disorders in female students. The research method was descriptive and cross-sectional. Participants comprised 354 female students from fourth, fifth, and sixth grades in elementary schools in Karaj and were selected by stratified random sampling using the Children Nonverbal Learning Disabilities Scale (Goldstein, 2002). 13 students who got ≥30 points on the Scale were diagnosed at-risk to a nonverbal learning disorder. Then, they answered to Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-3rd revision (Woolger, 2001). 3 students were diagnosed as having a nonverbal learning disorder according to their total intelligence quotient equals to ≥85, ≥10 point difference between their verbal intelligence quotient and practical intelligence quotient. Data were analyzed by The Mann-Whitney U test. The results indicated that 0.85% of female students had a nonverbal learning disorder. The findings suggested that regarding the almost high prevalence of nonverbal learning disorders in elementary students, we can accomplish early intervention programs to prevent their academic, behavioral, and occupational problems in the future.