What is Hyperlexia?

Hyperlexia is when a child starts reading early and surprisingly beyond their expected ability. It's often accompanied by an obsessive interest in letters and numbers, which develops as an infant.‌ Hyperlexia is often, but not always, part of the autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

What are signs of hyperlexia?

People with hyperlexia have an innate ability to decode or sound out words very quickly and are commonly known as “super readers”. They generally have a very good auditory and visual memory. While they can read well, they may have verbal communication skills that are below their age level.

Are kids with hyperlexia gifted?

Hyperlexic children are intelli- gent, often highly-gifted individ- uals. They have an intense curiosity and interest in learn- ing. Older hyperlexic children may often be highly verbal and obviously academically gifted.

Is hyperlexia good or bad?

Children who read early (hyperlexia) or speak late (Einstein Syndrome) have something in common. Both are often mistaken for autism, and much to relief of many parents, both have a good outcome. There are three kinds of hyperlexia: Hyperlexia 1 consists of bright, neurotypical children who simply read early.

Do kids outgrow hyperlexia?

Hyperlexia III: This type is like hyperlexia II, but the symptoms decrease over time and finally disappear. Children with hyperlexia III tend to have remarkable reading comprehension, but their verbal language development may be behind.

What Is Hyperlexia? #learning

At what age does hyperlexia start?

Hyperlexia is when a child starts reading early and surprisingly beyond their expected ability, sometimes when they are 18 or 24 months, and occasionally it is not a stand-alone diagnosis.

Do hyperlexic kids understand what they read?

Hyperlexia is a condition where preschool children display an intense early interest in letters in a way that is very advanced for their age. They can decode words accurately, but without understanding their meaning.

Is hyperlexia an ADHD trait?

A hyperlexic-like style of reading (HPL), defined as word decoding substantially better than reading comprehension, was found in an important minority of female school-age children with a diagnosis of ADHD.

How rare is hyperlexia?

Hyperlexia is extremely rare. About two in every 10,000 children with "autism spectrum disorders" have hyperlexia, and researchers believe that studying Alex's development may help explain why some children naturally pick up reading the same way that others pick up spoken speech.

Are autistic kids affectionate?

An autistic child may enjoy a very brief and low-intensity expression of affection but become confused or overwhelmed when greater levels of expression are experienced or expected.

Is hyperlexia Asperger's?

Hyperlexia, type II

These “splinter skills” are seen along with, and in the midst of, the characteristic language, social and behavioral symptoms seen in autistic spectrum disorders. They usually carry a diagnosis of autistic disorder, Asperger's disorder or pervasive developmental disorder (PPD/NOS) for example.

How do you test for hyperlexia?

Although there is no specific test for hyperlexia, a neuropsychologist or other healthcare professional may be able to identify characteristics of hyperlexia in your child by talking with them. They may be able to gauge your child's understanding of language.

Can hyperlexia go away?

Hyperlexia III occurs when children read early as above and, for a period of time, have “autistic-like” symptoms which, unlike children on the spectrum, fade over time and disappear.

What age do kids count to 10?

The simple answer is that most toddlers will be able to count to 10 by the time they are around two years old. Every child is different, and this can vary, but it's worth noting as well that at this stage reciting numbers isn't necessarily a sign of understanding the larger concepts behind them.

What is Palilalia in toddlers?

Palilalia is a lesser-known speech phenomenon that involves the repetition of one's own words, phrases or sounds. This repetition usually happens immediately and involuntarily. The repeated phrase or word is often spoken more quickly and with decreasing volume each time. For instance, a child might say, “I want cookie…

What age is considered a late talker?

According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), late talkers are toddlers (18 to 30 months old) who have a limited vocabulary for their age, but do not have any other developmental delays. Some late talkers may talk by three to five years of age. These toddlers are called late bloomers.

What are three conditions that often accompany autism?

What are splinter skills in autism?

Splinter skills are abilities that are disconnected from their usual context and/or purpose. Because they are just a "splinter," or fraction, of a meaningful set of skills, splinter skills may not be particularly useful in real-world situations.

How is hyperlexia treated?

The main treatment for Hyperlexia will be delivered by a speech and language therapist who will focus on developing and supporting communication and social interaction skills. Therapy will use the individual's advance reading and visual abilities as a tool for therapy and language learning.

Why do kids with autism love letters?

Many children with autism develop focused interests. Strong interest in letters and numbers is particularly common. It's important to understand that your son's pursuits may be a source of happiness and pride for him. It may also help him cope with stress and difficult situations.

What is a number obsession with autism?

Many children with autism develop focused interests. Strong interest in letters and numbers is particularly common. It's important to understand that your son's pursuits may be a source of happiness and pride for him. It may also help him cope with stress and difficult situations.

What is echolalia speech?

Echolalia is the unsolicited repetition of utterances made by others. It is one of the most common echo phenomena and is a non-voluntary, automatic, and effortless pervasive behavior. Echolalia is a normal finding during language development in toddlers.[1]

What can mimic high functioning autism?