HI,
If you google hyperlexia there are a few different sites that discuss it. Hyperlexia has to do with ability to read at an early age-not necessary comprehending. It can also be related to numbers/letters in general re:identification.
Some people view Hyperlexia as a separate disability area-more related to speech/language issues. Kids who are hyperlexic exhibit characteristics similar to those on the spectrum but it was noted that once they get therapy needed to improve comprehension/language skills that you see significant improvements. Some people view it as a splinter skill of children within the spectrum.
There is a clinic in Chicago-Center for speech/language pathologist where a group of speech/language pathologists work with children who are hyperlexic. Have a book about way to help teach children.
Hope that helps.
jcan
My son is four, and can read at about the level of your average 3rd or 4th
Okay, this is from the American Hyperlexia Association:
Hyperlexia has characteristics similar to autism, behavior disorder, language disorder, emotional disorder, Attention Deficit Disorder, hearing impairment, giftedness or, paradoxically, mental retardation.
To develop effective teaching strategies and more typical childhood development, it is important to differentiate hyperlexia from other disorders. A thorough speech and language pathologist who is familiar with the syndrome of hyperlexia is a crucial first step. Psychological tests which emphasise visual processes rathere than verbal skills aid in identifying hyperlexia.
Hearing, neurological, psychiatric, blood chemistry and genetic evaluations can be performed to rule out other disorders but are not needed to identify hyperlexia
The future of a hyperlexic child depends on developing his / her language expression and comprehension skills. Intensive speech and language therapy and early intervention programs can help achieve this objective. The child's reading skills should be used as a primary means of developing language.
It is important to teach the child appropriate social skills. Providing opportunities for the child to interact with children whose behavior is more socially appropriate is one way to accomplish this.
Parent, teachers and other professionals should work together to develop programs for each child to reach his /her fullest potential.
Okay, so to me this means my daughter is NOT hyper-lexic. She understands verbal language and the only symptom she really has is the ability to recognize letters and words far above her age level (she turns 3 on Friday). Okay, her social skills aren't what I would like either - particularly with kids her age and with SOME adults. She is social with some kids (particularly those who are a few years older than her) and with some adults. She was talking with my ds' new principal within about a minute of meeting her - which is unusual for her with adults. She is "slow-to-warm-up" according to the autism specialist (I had her observed) and according to the dev ped.
She exhibits none of the "other symptoms" as well. She can hold a conversation - whether she chooses to or not is a different story. In fact, she can hold quite lengthy conversations with people she likes and they are true back-and-forth where she is listening and responding to what has been said. She answers "wh" questions ("why" questions she sometimes has difficulty with - but she is not even 3 yet!) and she has been asking "wh" questions since she was just past 2. She does have a strong auditory and visual memory though. I guess that is one she does have. She also thinks pretty concretely and literally until I explain an "expression" - again, I think this might be age-appropriate?
As you can see, I really struggle with this! She definitely has quirks, but she is so good about interacting with some people. Especially her brother. Every day, she will ask him if he had fun/had a good day at school when he gets home. If someone gets hurt, she immediately runs over and asks if they are okay (it has to be someone she knows - otherwise, she will ask ME to go over and check!). If I yawn, she asks if I am tired and she runs and gets me a blanket and gives me her lovey "so I can sleep". She shares, takes turns, and can accurately make different emotion faces (i.e. a sad face, a mad face, a confused face, etc.). She also readily identifies emotions of people by looking at their faces. She still has a few quirks - lining up her letters from the letter puzzles, obsession with letters, being "slow-to-warm-up" to the point of getting strange looks about it.
Well, I didn't mean to hijack the post - just me being concerned once again about my dd. Even though the dev ped (who I respect very much) told me he did NOT think she was on the spectrum but he did understand my concerns and to monitor her - while also getting her into as many social situations as possible. I guess I just like to drive myself crazy!
They told me she was savant in this..I died laughing
She can read normally just advanced for her age:) not encyclopedias or a whole dictionary in a day just for fun
i realize that he is still too young, and don't need to read anything, but is always eager to read backwards to get my warning: 'wrong way'.
here is my question:
could be person be hyperlexic and dyslexic at the same time?
Question - I thought hyperlexia is when kids read early, but don't understand what they are reading? My dd is sounding out words rather well - she turns 3 this Friday. However, she understands what she is sounding out. For instance, she sounded out the word "PET" and she said, "Oh, just like XXXXX (our cat)". This is just one example of her understanding what she is sounding out.
Our dev ped said she didn't have hyperlexia because 1) she can carry on a conversation and 2) she is understanding what she is reading.
I read at age 3 (at least that is what my parents tell me - I clearly remember reading at age 4 for sure). I understood what I read - my parents tested me (don't EVEN get me started on that one - they even TIMED me to see how fast I was reading!). My dd got intersted after seeing the LeapFrog videos on letters and words - she now takes her letter puzzle and makes words out of the letters.
Sarah is very hyperlexic and has been reading and spelling since 2.6 years old. I used to belong to the hyperlexic parents forum but not very busy. The mom that began it has a daughter with it and she feels it is not to be linked to autism and that most of the autism sx disappear by school age with this syndrome. She wrote a book called "Hannah's Hope."
Not very many speech therapists know of it. There is a new book out this year called "When babies read" I still havent got it..one day:) It is not a recognised disorder according to the DMV and you will be unable to get insurance to pay for services for this.
...most kids with it are on the spectrum but only make up about 5% percent of all autistic kids. I believe it is a gift! It allowed us a window into teaching Sarah..she responded so much better to social stories and scripts and behavioral modeling if we could write it out for her. She loves to read but only for pleasure and not a demand. She comprehends everything too but has trouble expressing she understands..her words retrieval is very hard still. She was tested at 5 years old to read at 6th grade level..that was as high as the test went
It is actually a savant skill according to the school because she test low on expressive and inference (relatating what story is about~the jest/moral of it) but I am glad she has this tool to teach her. We always keep closed caption on TV and display books where she can be enticed to read them. A great thing we got was a book shelf where the books can be displayed outwards where you can see the whole front cover of all the books...it makes it more interesting to her:)
Good luck:)
Hi , I have seen alot of posts using the term Hyper lexic , does anyone have Info on it I searched it but came up dry on this site.
Thanks ,Linda