Hyperlexia is a syndrome observed in children who have the following characteristics:

•A precocious ability to read words, far above what would be expected at their chronological age or an intense fascination with letters or numbers.

•Significant difficulty in understanding verbal language

•Abnormal social skills, difficulty in socializing and interacting appropriately with people

In addition, some children who are hyperlexic may exhibit the following characteristics:

•Learn expressive language in a peculiar way, echo or memorize the sentence structure without understanding the meaning (echolalia), reverse pronouns

•Rarely initiates conversations

•An intense need to keep routines, difficulty with transitions, ritualistic behavior

•Auditory, olfactory and / or tactile sensitivity

•Self-stimulatory behavior

•specific, unusual fears

•Normal development until 18-24 months, then regression

•Strong auditory and visual memory

•Difficulty answering "Wh--" questions, such as "what," "where," "who," and "why"

•Think in concrete and literal terms, difficulty with abstract concepts

•Listen selectively, appear to be deaf

Why identify children with hyperlexia across diagnostic categories?

•to understand the common way in which they process language

•to understand the common way in which they learn

•to assess strengths in visual processing and reading

•to devise effective therapeutic and educational programs

Reprinted from the American Hyperlexia Association with permission

In the study of Hyperlexia, the experts are still infants. Parents tend to fall into four camps:

         1 - Hyperlexia is a Stand Alone Condition
2 - Hyperlexia is a splinter skill of Autism
3 - Hyperlexia coexists with PPD, SPD, or Spectrum disorders
4 - My kid is one of those, I think!