Hyperlexia

Kevin - 34 months old reading

Hyperlexia

Hyperlexia has many characteristics similar to autism and some consider it to be an autism spectrum disorder. Because of its close association with autism, hyperlexia is often misdiagnosed.

The main characteristics of hyperlexia are an above normal ability to read coupled with a below normal ability to understand spoken language. Many of the social difficulties seen in hyperlexic individuals are similar to those found in autism. Often, hyperlexic children will learn to speak only by rote memory and heavy repetition. They may also have difficulty learning the rules of language from examples or from trial and error.

Some people assert that hyperlexia is autism, whereas others assert hyperlexia is a completely different condition.

Hyperlexia Symptoms
The severity, frequency, and grouping of the following symptoms will determine an actual diagnosis

• A precocious ability to read words far above what would be expected at a child's age
• Child may appear gifted in some areas and extremely deficient in others
• Significant difficulty in understanding verbal language
• Difficulty in socializing and interacting appropriately with people
• Abnormal and awkward social skills
• Specific or unusual fears
• Fixation with letters or numbers
• Echolalia (Repetition or echoing of a word or phrase just spoken by another person)
• Memorization of sentence structures without understanding the meaning
• An intense need to keep routines, difficulty with transitions, ritualistic behavior

Additional Symptoms:
• Normal development until 18-24 months, then regression
• Listens selectively / appears to be deaf
• Strong auditory and visual memory
• Self-stimulatory behavior (hand flapping, rocking, jumping up and down)
• Think in concrete and literal terms, difficulty with abstract concepts
• Auditory, olfactory and / or tactile sensitivity
• Difficulty answering "Wh--" questions, such as "what," "where," "who," and "why"

* Yes, our boy has classic autism

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Hyperlexia
• Hiperlexia
• Hyperlexic
• Autism
• Autismo
• Autistic

[tiaz74]

Wow, reminds me of my lil guy. Our kids are amazing and the BEST teachers. What a Q-T you have there!

~Tina

[kevinfruet]

Thanks!

[kevinfruet]

Since he was 18 months.

[kevinfruet]

I made it on my computer...

I can send it to you, just give me your email address.

[kevinfruet]

Sure they are amazing!

Thanks Christschool!

[kevinfruet]

He is funny and he likes to show that really knows the words.

Thanks for comments.

[Brady2k10]

im happy that Hyperlexia is now being recognised but ive had it for 20 years... the shit ive had to go through... but enough of me whining because u dont need to hear that. I want people to know what Hyperlexia really is, i know what it is. Its not just good reading skills, the social difficulties especially throught my teenage years were so hard, it was hell for me. I still find it so hard to make friends... and ive never had a girlfriend despite my good looks. Luckily its bein seen earlier now

[cannabischarlie]

that is aspergers syndrome

[hisguhfrmtx]

he's a handsome lil man

[BTC141]

He reads better than many adults. I never knew such a condition existed. Thank you for posting.

[mollysangelique]

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[aktion13f14]

Ha! You have "no" on the synthesizer. Good idea--I'm assuming he probably will not listen to an adult saying "no don't touch it" but will immediately focus on the letters and associate them to the proper action :)Thanks for sharing. This kid is so freakin adorable. :D

[dylandare12]

it seems to me that he can read AND comprehend the words he saying because in some words, such as "clap" he clapped. that is very good!

[radketim]

have you ever tried changing the order of the words to see if he hasn't just memorized the order?

[mompood]

Oh my god! your child is a paraplegic!

[KSitz77]

@snowpanth I agree. Too quick to label these days.My daughter was diagnosed with autism because she learned to speak by repeating cartoons. She's 10 now and is perfectly fine although the "experts" won't admit their mistake.