Gus Walz’s Viral DNC Moment

What you should know about his NVLD diagnosis that is appearing in all the headlines

By now, you're likely familiar with Gus Walz, whose love and admiration for his father, Tim Walz, were evident as he watched his dad accept the nomination for Vice President at the Democratic National Convention. Gus’s unfiltered display of emotion sparked conversations about neurodiversity when the Walz family shared with People magazine that Gus has been diagnosed with ADHD, anxiety, and Nonverbal Learning Disorder, or NVLD.

While most people are familiar with ADHD and anxiety disorder, fewer know about NVLD. This is probably because NVLD is not yet a formal diagnosis—it hasn’t been included in diagnostic manuals like the DSM. Instead, it’s a well-documented cluster of symptoms that is still under research and clinical investigation.

The hallmark of NVLD is known as the VIQ>PIQ split, which means an individual’s verbal IQ is significantly stronger than their performance, or non-verbal, IQ. In other words, their abstract reasoning and problem-solving skills are much stronger in the verbal domain than in the non-verbal domain. This split is associated with various challenges, including difficulties with math, fine and gross motor skills, executive functioning, and social interactions.

However, there isn’t yet consensus on which symptoms are necessary to meet criteria for NVLD, and we don’t fully understand how NVLD is separate and distinct from other diagnoses like ADHD and autism. As a result, different clinicians may interpret the label NVLD differently, and it doesn’t provide access to specific treatments or services.

One might wonder what about NVLD might have caused Gus Walz to react so strongly to seeing his dad onstage at the DNC. The answer is nothing. Gus Walz’s reaction was a completely typical and expected response to an incredibly overwhelming emotional experience.

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