What is Hyperlexic?

Hyperlexia is advanced and unexpected reading skills and abilities in children way beyond their chronological age. It is a fairly recently named condition (1967) although earlier descriptions of precocious reading do exist.


What are signs of hyperlexia?

Signs of hyperlexia
  • Signs of a developmental disorder. Despite being able to read well, hyperlexic kids will show signs of a developmental disorder, such as being unable to speak or communicate like other kids their age. ...
  • Lower than normal understanding. ...
  • Ability to learn quickly. ...
  • Affinity for books.


Is hyperlexia a form of autism?

Hyperlexia is often, but not always, part of the autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It's considered a “splinter skill,” a unique skill that doesn't have much practical application. But therapists can often use a child's hyperlexic skills as a tool for their therapy and treatment.


What are the three types of hyperlexia?

Darold Treffert, who is a leading expert on Hyperlexia, there are three different types. Type 1: Neurotypical children who read early. Type 2: Children with autism who have Hyperlexia as a splinter skill. Type 3: Children without autism who read early, but have some autistic-like traits that fade over time.

Can you have hyperlexia and not be autistic?

Overall, hyperlexia is strongly associated with autism with 84% of cases of kids with hyperlexia being identified as on the autism spectrum. Yet, only 6 to 14% of kids diagnosed with autism will have hyperlexia. 1 It is also possible for hyperlexia to occur alongside other neurodevelopmental disorders.


Hyperlexia And Autism: Why Your Two Year Old Can Read (SHOCK)



Do kids outgrow hyperlexia?

There are three kinds of hyperlexia: Hyperlexia 1 consists of bright, neurotypical children who simply read early. Watching a child read books out loud to his or her nursery school class is always quite startling. But eventually most other children learn to read as well so that gap disappears over time.

Is hyperlexia a symptom of ADHD?

Abstract. Objective: Hyperlexic-like reading (defined as word decoding much better than comprehension) has been associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Here we study correlates of a hyperlexic-like reading style (HPL) in ADHD, a condition known to co-occur both with reading difficulties and ASD.

What causes hyperlexia in children?

Hyperlexia I: It happens when children developing without disabilities learn to read early and far above their expected level. Because other children eventually learn to read and catch up, and this condition is temporary.


What is an example of hyperlexia?

Often, hyperlexic children will have a precocious ability to read but will learn to speak only by rote and heavy repetition, and may also have difficulty learning the rules of language from examples or from trial and error, which may result in social problems.

Is hyperlexia a neurological disorder?

Hyperlexia is defined as the co-occurrence of advanced reading skills relative to comprehension skills or general intelligence, the early acquisition of reading skills without explicit teaching, and a strong orientation toward written material, generally in the context of a neurodevelopmental disorder.

What are the causes of hyperlexia?

Caused by an obsession with numbers and letters that leads to a much higher reading level than their age. Hyperlexia three - this form of hyperlexia decreases over time. Those with hyperlexia three will have exceptional reading skills but may fall behind in verbal communication.


What is the mildest form of autism called?

Asperger's Syndrome is the mildest form of autism and is closely associated with level one of ASD.

What do mild forms of autism look like?

Characteristics of Mild Autism

Repetitive or fixated behaviors, interests, or activities: Autistic people often repeat movements or words as a way to self-regulate, a behavior often referred to as “stimming.” They may also adhere to specific routines and have specific and intense interests.

Can giftedness be mistaken for autism?

Giftedness can lead to misdiagnosis

Children who are gifted may have behaviors that look like ADHD or autism.


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 is the difference between hyperlexia 2 and 3?

Like children with hyperlexia 3 they often have difficulty with auditory processing, sensory integration and social delays. But unlike children with hyperlexia 2, the “autistic-like” behaviors in hyperlexia 3 children fade over time with very positive outcomes and little or no autistic residual.

Can a child read well but not comprehend?

Some children appear to be reading fine but do not understand what they read. These children are known as “good decoders.” It may seem more like your child views words as algorithms to be decoded than messages to be understood.


Are early readers gifted?

Many gifted children learn to read early, and as much as this may be a sign of giftedness, it is not always so. Some of the children who are hyperlexic, do learn to read very early, but because they have little or no comprehension are not termed gifted readers (Jackson, Donaldson, & Cleland, 1988).

What are signs of high functioning autism?

Signs and Symptoms of High Functioning Autism
  • Repetitiveness. HFA is partly characterized by anobsession with a particular subject or activity. ...
  • Emotional sensitivity. ...
  • Social problems. ...
  • Language peculiarities. ...
  • Sensory difficulties. ...
  • Little or no attention to caregivers.


What can mimic high functioning autism?

Conditions That Mimic Autism
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) The symptoms of OCD, such as compulsive hand washing, cleaning or touching items like doorknobs, can resemble the repetitive motions of autism. ...
  • Antisocial personality disorder. ...
  • Schizophrenia. ...
  • Learning disorders. ...
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD)


What are autistic hand gestures?

About stimming and autism

Stimming might include: hand and finger mannerisms – for example, finger-flicking and hand-flapping. unusual body movements – for example, rocking back and forth while sitting or standing. posturing – for example, holding hands or fingers out at an angle or arching the back while sitting.

What is the extreme opposite of autism?

In some ways Williams syndrome is the opposite of autism. For example, people with Williams syndrome love to talk and tell stories, whereas those with autism usually have language delay and little imagination. Many people with Williams syndrome draw disjointed pictures, some with autism draw pictures in perfect detail.

Are you born with autism?

Autism is not an illness

It means your brain works in a different way from other people. It's something you're born with. Signs of autism might be noticed when you're very young, or not until you're older. If you're autistic, you're autistic your whole life.


What is Aspergers called now?

The name for Asperger's Syndrome has officially changed, but many still use the term Asperger's Syndrome when talking about their condition. The symptoms of Asperger's Syndrome are now included in a condition called Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). ASD is now the name used for a wide range of autism-like disorders.

What part of the brain is affected in hyperlexia?

Hyperlexic reading is therefore associated with hyperactivation of the left superior temporal cortex, much in the same way as developmental dyslexia is associated with hypoactivation of this area.