Hyperlexia

DisclaimerThis page is not here to be used as a self-diagnosis, self-identification, or promotion - it's simply here to be informational. Whether or not one self-diagnoses, self-identifies, and/or seeks a professional diagnosis is up to them.

## Hyperlexia

### Similar/related to

ASD, language disorder(s), non-verbal learning disabil(ties)y, ADHD, epilepsy, Tourette's Syndrome, dyspraxia, social anxiety, etc.

### Type of disability

Developmental and intellectual disorder/syndrome

## Discovery/identification information

### Discoverer(s)

Norman & Margaret Silberberg

Hyperlexia is an intellectual and developmental disability/syndrome categorized in the fascination or early educational access to reading, writing and other activities involving numbers, equations, words and/or letters. It was recently named in 1967 by Norman E. Silberberg and Margaret C. Silberberg, who discovered that the most likely age to recognize hyperlexia in children is before the age of 5, but in other circumstances these symptoms may come later. Among children with autism, about 6% to 14% have hyperlexia. Not all people with hyperlexia have autism, however, but approximately 84% of children with hyperlexia have autism.

Hyperlexia can be the opposite of dyslexia, a learning disability characterized by having difficulty reading and spelling. However, unlike children with hyperlexia, dyslexic children can normally understand what they are reading and have good communication skills. Known very commonly as a subgenre of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), hyperlexia is not only an intellectual syndrome but also a communication, social interaction and developmental disability.

## Harmful/Outdated Symbol of Hyperlexia

Due to its place in the Autism Umbrella, hyperlexia can also be falsely interpreted with symbols and such, including the Hyperlexia Awareness symbol. Founded by Hyperlexia 3, a similar business to Autism Speaks, the ribbon is made up of randomized, colorful letters and white-faded books, behind and beside the text “HYPERLEXIA III AWARENESS.” Due to its close relations to one of the outdated symbols of autism, the puzzle piece ribbon, a new and more representative symbol for hyperlexia is in the works.

## Common Symptoms

*Note: These are the main common symptoms to hyperlexia. Other hyperlexics may have different circumstances than the “average hyperlexic” considering its involvement in the autism umbrella which is known for its different ways some autistic people may interact with their surroundings.*

* Fascination with numbers and letters
	+ Often gifted or talented in educational subjects such as math, writing, ELA/LA, etc.
	+ Can succeed in bilingualism/the study of another language or be able to decode words or phrases in different languages, either by study or basic intellect
* Extremely good auditory and visual memory
	+ Has the ability to memorise visuals and audio
	+ Can remember almost everything that oneself has read or heard, and can easily quote or repeat sentences, quotes or phrases that tend to be difficult to another individual, oftentimes consisting of allistics and neurotypicals
* Sensory sensitivity
	+ React very negatively to physical touch
	+ Auditory processing difficulties
	+ Sensory integration
* Struggle with verbal communication
	+ Oftentimes have to be consulted with a speech therapist
	+ Prefer books, writing or solving math over verbal communication
	+ Oftentimes are non-verbal, semi-verbal or speak little while still having a large and/or advanced vocabulary
* Might prefer books to toys and games
	+ Mainly due to the more likeliness books have more numbers or letters than toys or games may have which can frequently result in boredom due to not being more involved in special interests
* Word repetition
	+ Echolalia/palilalia
* "Air writing:" replicating oneself writing on a paper with a pencil in-hand. Air writing can be used a stim to help with self-regulation.

## Hyperlexia 1

These are neurotypical children who simply read early. The ability is attention-getting because of its early onset compared to their peer group. Hearing a nursery school child reading books to his or her classmates is quite astonishing. Usually that reading ability is accompanied by comprehension.

## Hyperlexia 2

It has been recognized for many years that some children with autism or related conditions have an excessive interest in letters and numbers. These children spend many hours obsessively arranging or re-arranging magnetic letters on the refrigerator or any other surface, or perhaps writing or re-writing them anywhere convenient, including the walls or sidewalk. This is accompanied by unusual memorization of these letters or numbers. Often this obsessive preoccupation extends to arranging and re-arranging toy cars, puzzle pieces or other such objects.

Eventually this number/letter obsessiveness morphs to early reading ability in jarring juxtaposition to other developmental limitations. Very often an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis has already been applied, or other diagnoses such as PDD/NOS, Asperger’s, behavior disorder, language disorder, learning disorder or gifted have been used.

These children comprise the Hyperlexia 2 group. The early reading ability is indeed a part of an autistic spectrum condition as often described in some books, articles or web sites. In these children the hyperlexia is accompanied by other cognitive, learning or social skill difficulties usually seen in ASD including some symptoms or behaviors such as echolalia, withdrawal, stimming, insistence on sameness, poor eye contact, repetitive behaviors and resistance to both giving and receiving affection, for example. They often have difficulty with auditory processing and sensory integration as well.

## Hyperlexia 3

These children show the same preoccupation with letters and numbers very early as infants and later begin to read. They too show many of the characteristic signs, behaviors and symptoms of ASD as seen in hyperlexia 2. 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.

The fact that the “autistic-like” features and behaviors fade over time does not mean that happens all by itself. Often those “autistic-like” symptoms, communication difficulties, sensory integration disorders and social awkwardness require the same interventions, for a time, as in hyperlexia 2 individuals considering the learning style of all children with hyperlexia.

Typically, parents often describe these children as much less withdrawn and more engaged, particularly with adults, than is often the case with ASD children. There is much more eye contact and involvement in both giving and receiving affection. Overall, they tend to be more socially comfortable and the maladaptive behaviors are less intense and less frequent than seen in more classic “autism”. Hence the term “autistic-like”.

## References

1. ↑ https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjand6S3OyAAxWsJUQIHY3XDhYQFnoECAgQAw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FHyperlexia%23%3A~%3Atext%3DHyperlexia%2520is%2520a%2520syndrome%2520characterized%2Cbefore%2520the%2520age%2520of%2520five.&usg=AOvVaw0U2uOw6OkuZ5L5XtNdH1Wa&opi=89978449
2. ↑ https://www.webmd.com/children/what-is-hyperlexia#:~:text=It%27s%20difficult%20to%20know%20exactly,children%20with%20hyperlexia%20have%20autism.
3. ↑ https://www.healthline.com/health/hyperlexia#hyperlexia-vs-dyslexia
4. ↑ https://www.andnextcomesl.com/2020/10/hyperlexia-air-writing.html#:~:text=Why%20Your%20Hyperlexic%20Child%20Could,are%20feeling%20overwhelmed%20or%20anxious.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 https://www.ssmhealth.com/treffert-center/conditions-treatments/hyperlexia