Sunday, January 22, 2012

On Hyperlexia

Jenn recently asked me about what it is like to be Hyperlexic. I'd never thought about 'what it's like' before, as my oddity has  fueled my passion for writing. I saw it as a good thing, not something to explain away or try to overcome. I was an odd kid, yet nobody really put names to it or took me to the doctor over it. I don't remember much before ten years old, but Mom and Dad used to laugh when they told the story of my learning to read. The story is: I didn’t.

I can't remember not being able to read. Before I even went to school, relatives visited us in Havelock to find me on the living room floor with the Toronto Star splayed out in front of me. "How cute," they said, "he's pretending to read the paper." My parents laughed. "No, he's reading it." I even read aloud to prove it.





In Grade one, I could read at a grade five level, and by twelve years old I was devouring epics like 'War and Peace', 'Les Miserables', and was on my fourth or fifth reading of the old leather bound 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy. I spent much time in the library in my first high school, and my inner world was interwoven with literature.

Nobody would have known much about this because my outer world lacked the social graces that I later had to painstakingly build from scratch while doing theatre in Montreal. Literature, though, was where I went to understand the world. Even recently I was asked by my chiropractor why I went from Engineering in first year to creative writing in my second, two seemingly unrelated disciplines. All I could explain, sheepishly, was that it came down to patterns. I understood both Engineering AND writing in terms of the patterns.

My experience in the mid-70’s was similar to what Owen’s is now. We first knew something was different with our little guy when Jenn discovered words spelled on the refrigerator. Owen was about two. She thought it was Cole doing it until she secretly watched Owen playing with them. It wasn’t so much a shock to us, because we remembered all the stories my parents had told about my miraculous learning when I was little.

At about two and a half years old, something happened in Owen’s brain that he looked at the alphabet, and knew which letters were which. Within weeks he was able to name them in random order, sing the entire alphabet song, and identify letters in everyday life, from signs and pictures. The alphabet and its letters were his 'first word'. It was actually the individual letters we used to teach him everyone's names. At three he could sing the alphabet backwards.


Owen in 2007, around 2 years old.

Jenn remarked this morning that this innate ability to read has made it very frustrating for Cole helping Daisy learn to read. He doesn't remember having to learn to read, and his experience is with Owen, who "just knew". He would show Owen a book, and his little brother would know the words and how to spell them immediately. Owen's ability to spell, with a keyboard mind you, is actually farther advanced than Cole's. We have to keep reminding Cole that with Daisy, she's going to learn at her own pace, and that he has to be patient. The other day, putting away the board games we'd had out, Owen rhymed off: "Risk, the world conquest game." and left Jenn thinking 'how the heck does he know how to pronounce conquest'? I don't know. I can't explain it.

We spent a lot of time in Speech and Language therapy at Belleville’s Children’s Treatment Centre. Some therapy was trying to get Owen to identify pictures on cards, but we couldn’t get him to focus on the pictures if there were words on the bottom of the card. In one of his group sessions they had a schedule written for the teachers taped on the back of the chair. Owen could not focus on anything except the schedule. At the end of each activity he would proudly announce what the next activity would be. They had to hide it during the next class so that he could focus on the lesson.

It seems to come as par for the course with Owen, to do everything in the "wrong" order, but still gets there. It feels to me, on the outside looking in, that the cart has been put before horse. Learning the words, as well as their pronunciations and spellings, for both of us came long before understanding the meanings, and even though I could read well, I couldn't understand fully what was meant in literature until later on in life, even if I understood the sentences. Does that make sense?

So how does Owen, 'just know'? How does this type of innate knowledge of language work in the hyperlexic brain? I am not a scientist, so I can’t answer that in depth, but one has to ask: why bother studying it at all if it’s a ‘bonus’? Who would want to research something that is a gift, and not a handicap? Well, it is fascinating in its links to ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders), and the study of it can help us to understand better the workings of the brain.

IS it genetic? Given our recent history, I have to ask, even if it doesn’t fit. Well, the ‘Sprung mutation’ on the eleventh chromosome is still undetermined. So far the only two people we can verify who have it are Owen and I, and we won't know about the rest of my family until the testing is done. The aversion to texture and sensitivity to noise (see the post on noise), seem to come from my father, while the tendency to hyperlexia seems to come from my mother. She was always obsessed with books. My grandfather Patterson, who was an avid crossword puzzler, also loved reading, but not in the same way. In fact, the only other person who was so obsessive about books in my family, was my mother’s sister, Aunt Chris, rest her soul, a school teacher in Duncan B.C. who passed away from Cancer in 2001, and gave me my first journal in 1983, writing a dedication in the front with her fountain pen.


Mom and I in 1972. I had just published my first novel ... lol j/k!



To be clear, hyperlexia is its own thing. It is not new, being that many of the obsessive oddball decoders in Bletchley Park in World War II were known to be hyperlexic. It is not an official diagnosis, more of a condition than a disorder, and not in the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Medical Disorders). It can exist with all sorts of other conditions, being that some children with autism also have hyperlexia. I'm assuming, perhaps incorrectly, it must be the polar opposite of dyslexia. It is the hyper-awareness of the order of things and the drive to keep them in that order, while dyslexia is the inability to do the same.

What does that mean? Some experts see it as a 'useless' splinter skill. It is word recognition, but not comprehension. Some think that it is akin to decoding. It seems to fit a group of children who have disordered development. Of all the webpages out there dedicated to hyperlexia, none of them seem to work. (Is this also fitting, that there are probably some very intricate and brilliant webpages stored on hard drives, without the skills to get them online? Oh, the irony...)

One great definition I lifted from a link here...  "Children with Hyperlexia demonstrate an intense fascination with letters, numbers, patterns and logos, and a self-taught, precocious ability to read, spell, write and/or compute, usually before the age of five. They have difficulty developing language and communication skills and often exhibit unusual behaviours or interests."

In terms of ASD, those who show a propensity for Hyperlexia, appear to have a better prognosis on the spectrum than those who do not. The theory behind it is that just because the comprehension doesn’t exist at the beginning, doesn’t mean it won’t come.

In simple terms, and this is the sum of what I know of it as it pertains to Owen’s and my oddities, hyperlexia is like a steel structure building. When building ‘normal’ buildings, you build from floor to floor, pouring concrete or putting up wooden walls, and building atop them, with all elements being put in place at the same time. In the hyperlexic, the whole steel structure can (and sometimes should) be built to stand alone before all the extras like cladding and floors are added.

As Jenn says: “We value people who can write, read, and do math, but if they can’t, we miss how brilliant they are. So what does that say about neurotypical social skills?”

Sometimes I wonder if all my “nice” tendencies, my sensitivity to injustice and my inability to lie, or to be politically clever, come from this. I see neurotypical people doing dastardly things that serve only themselves, especially in government, cutting social programs that are needed to put our world on the path to recovery, and doing things that blatantly destroy our environment, or downright evil political tactics like smear campaigns, presently directed at Bob Rae, or proroguing parliament or being found in contempt of it, and I think ‘if this is what it’s like to be neurotypical, count me out.’

I’d rather be socially handicapped than dishonorable.


My brilliant wife, Jennifer's, blog can be found here:
Cleverly Disguised as Cake

And my first novel, squeakyclean, here:
eBook, pdf, mobi, epub, rtf, lrf, palm, txt
Kindle US
Kindle UK
Kindle Germany

Previous posts about Owen are here:
Owen
Owen ii
Owen iii
Owen iv

43 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing this story! My 3 yr old daughter has just been identified as being hyperlexic. I enjoy reading these stories from real people vs. the professionals. You are writing on my level. Thank you!

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    1. No problem! It's just nice to find so many people who are affected by the same things. The world doesn't seem so lonely for Owie :D ...

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  2. Reading about hyperplexia is fascinating!

    When I was four, which is not remarkably early but early enough, I "taught" myself to read one afternoon. Everything on every page just made sense, and I could read and spell every word.

    I jumped from here to read a little more about it through Google searches, and there was mention of difficulty reading intention into words and facial expressions, and the facial expressions aspect jumped out at me, because along with my innate ability with language as a child, I also had difficulty understanding people's faces, and even into my thirties I have had to teach myself how to recognize when people are friendly or what it looks like when people say someone looks tired.

    So much of this rings so true to my life experience. Can you point me toward any good resources about hyperplexia?

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  3. Me too!!! I think that if it weren't for theatre I would never have learned to read people properly, and that coupled with the inability to read people's intentions ... man are you sure we're not related?

    I actually don't have too many resources on hyperlexia.
    The history of its study and a bit in wikipedia is here:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperlexia

    If you find any good resources, though, make sure to share and I'll do the same :D

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  4. It's nice to know I'm not alone. And, I'd rather be socially handicapped than dishonourable, too.

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  5. "It is the hyper-awareness of the order of things and the drive to keep them in that order, while dyslexia is the inability to do the same." - just wanted to comment on this: I suffer from both hyperlexia/Asperger's and dyslexia. You're correct in the quote above, and it's this very divide that can drive someone with both disorders insane. Often it can feel like living as two people at the same time. On one hand, the Aspie in me strives for order & structure, but the dyslexic part can interfere, making it nearly impossible to maintain this order/structure. I've found it relatively simple to generate well-developed ideas, plans, goals, and so forth (given ample time of course). However, carrying them out is usually a problem. If it comes to advising someone else, they can usually take the structure of the suggestions and do something great with it, yet it can be a struggle to follow my own advice. It's really a shame since, even with good intentions, optimistic motivation, and hard work, a person living with two opposing disorders experiences a constant chase trying to make ends meet. Furthermore, communication issues can interfere with the ability to seek out much-needed support. On the other hand, going through this & realizing the root cause can open a person's eyes to a lot of processes in this world that other people may not notice. My heart goes out to all of you - there is hope! I especially want to mention the GAPS Diet, which has slowly been helping with my symptoms. It's worth looking into. Keeping faith is also a necessity. You can rest assured that you're never alone.

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  6. Thank you so much for your reply. I was hesitant at first even to post this at the time, but I am glad now I did. It seems there are so many people with this condition and other conditions who can relate. It must be so frustrating to have dyslexia at the same time! My stutter still comes back at times, more a glitch hesitation than anything, and most who know me only as an adult are shocked by that, being that I am so articulate normally. We are all mysteries, wrapped in enigmas.

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  7. I have been told I am Hyperlexic but while I have never not known how to read. I have a vary hard time spelling and writing. I speak and can explain things in great detail but cant right about them. My social skills were poor to non existant when I was a child and even as an adult they are at times ocword. I have no idea if I am Hyperlexic but life can still be vary hard at times. In school it was always she will learn to write when she feels like it. That was never the case and its has taken me years to get to a point where I can write this comment. Misspelled words and all. I will be 50 in less then 2 months and it seems more and more that I want to find out what the problem is and if I can fix it. Thank you for sharing this. It helps me to work towards an understanding

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  8. Thanks Maryanne for your comment! I don't think it matters what the 'diagnosis' or even finding out what causes it - what is important is we all have a greater understanding of each other, and try to help each other through this great big world. It is said children can be cruel, and I think many take that with them as adults, they just get better at hiding it ... we all could use more understanding, and less cruelty, no matter what makes us different. Good luck on your path, and don't hesitate to drop a line if you need to talk :)

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  9. Just found your blog. Thank you for this. My guy, now 3, is more typically atypical than is your son, but is also keenly interested in (what I just learned last week) is considered decoding. Exactly how/why he differs we don't know, and--since he's didn't have severe feeding or other flags for a medical problem--we're just using therapies to help him eat, play, communicate, relate etc... as well as he can.

    I'm interested in supporting his ability to understand, and enjoy, stories. Or even just see what's going on around him. Certain parts of the adult and preschool worlds are so focused on literacy that not doing backflips about this ability can feel a little odd. It's not easy to tell people who want to marvel and question and test his abilities that their passing interaction, or an uncle's notion of "play" is unintentionally trick pony-ifying my kid.

    I don't want to dampen his enthusiasm, or make him feel like there's something wrong with him, I just want to help him develop the tools to really see/get things. He can decide himself whether or to what extent to engage. The therapists do have ideas, but it's so helpful to see what other parents do. So again, thanks.

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    1. Thanks for your comments. I'm fascinated with decoding too. Mind you, I'm nowhere near as good at it as my 7 yo son. It's hard to let them progress on their own without pushing them into performing their skills - just remember, every parent has to navigate different waters with the same stars! Good luck!

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  10. My son is 2 1/2 and has been diagnosed with POS_NOS. He could read at two, is now able to read books most 7 year olds can't. He also is facinated with numbers and loves to count and line them up horizontally. He barely talks and has a tough time around other kids his age. I now know he is hyperlexic and am hopeful that he will grow up to live a normal life. He's a happy child with a beautiful smile and very affectionate. I have come to grips with the diagnosis, and am now hopeful after reading your article. You have managed to find success, a wonderful wife and have children of your own that you are helping find their way with autism. I believe my son will as well, thank you for giving me hope and seeing hyperlexia as a positive ability!

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    1. Thanks for your comments!

      I have friends whose son is now in his teens, and who communicates solely by his iPad. He's a great kid, and has a rich life in high school. He has friends, and is happy. Each of us has to bring out what's great with our kids, and accept who they are. We can buck a diagnosis if it doesn't fit, but the kids need our love and support no matter what. It's funny how having a child who sees things differently can change the way we see the world, especially what we thought we wanted out of it ... now I just want my kids to be happy :)

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  11. My six year old son is hyperlexic. I'm not sure when he started reading since he wasn't talking. He was fascinated with letters and numbers since a year and a half old. Finally one day when he was two and suspecting he could read I brought up google images, typed in "door" and hit enter. He LOVED it. A few months later he could type and spell hundreds of words. I'd say the word, he'd spell it by typing it into the search bar and then hit enter to see pictures of whatever he typed. Just after his third birthday he learned sign language from a youtube video (the alphabet, not words) and then went around spelling words in sign. He has social issues and trouble understanding abstracts. It took forever for him to start talking, lots of therapy, lots of work. Now that he is, he's catching up. Slowly but it's happening. And he talks non-stop when around family. He just started asking questions. It's like he's playing catchup on some things since he skipped over them when he was 2-5. I keep looking around for stories of hyperlexic adults. It helps to see how others have dealt with hyperlexia, their outcomes, their hurdles and such. The scarcity of information makes us feel isolated at times. Thanks for the post.

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    1. Owen loves the computer too! We have to limit his time on it. My wife, Jennifer, also did a post about the sign language we had to use when he was little. Owie has really taught us patience, as he always seems to get things ... just not in the same order as other kids.

      Thanks so much for posting :) If you ever need to talk or anything, don't hesitate to contact me ... DM on twitter @rightsprung

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  12. AHHHHH So great!! I'm sharing this.

    I love hyperlexia. My son has it along with autism and it's just been the icing on the cake for us. He taught himself to read at the age of three. He's in grade 2 and testing well above grade 5 reading but his comprehension slows at grade 5. He's also amazing with numbers, figuring out complex (for a 7 year old) math questions just in his brain. He's just a lovely little smarty pants and it's so much fun.

    It doesn't seem to run in my family. My father does have a really high IQ and my husband and I are both really good at spelling and reading. But...no known cases of autism or hyperlexia, just a lot of smart people making babies.

    Thanks for sharing this with me on twitter!

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    1. Erin Hidlebaugh23 April 2013 at 11:53

      I wish our boys could be friends. He needs a little dude who is as bright and fun as him, but on the Spectrum. Other kids just don't him. <3

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    2. Aw, that is just sad. I hate hearing about kids having a hard time. Our house is all inclusive. We don't care who a person is, we just let them play ... have had our own bullying incidents lately and it brings me right back to my own childhood. I have written about it at the new blog here:

      https://jonathan-sprung.squarespace.com/wronglane/2013/2/22/punch-the-freckle

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  13. You are awesome! My son was diagnosed with Autism but we suspect he might be Hyperlexic (he may still be Autistic but he barely made the list and everything I read about Hyperlexia fits him 99.9%). Your post was very interesting to me as I am trying daily to understand more and more about my son. I love the fact that he is not considered "normal" as I was never considered "normal" and I am not fond of what being normal means. I think all the greatest people in history were unique and special and I always wanted both for my kids. I guess you could say that I got my wish.

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    1. Hi! Thank you for posting :D

      Oh man, what a journey! I wish I had written about this earlier because I still can't find much on the internet about it. Pah, who needs normal? We call it our 'x-man gene' lol

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  14. Erin Hidlebaugh23 April 2013 at 11:50

    I love this entry! My son sounds so much like you. He knew the alphabet before he could talk and started reading books before he was three. He does have Asperger's as well, but I'm positive he is Hyperlexic as well. He is in Grade 1 and reads in English at a Grade 5 level. He is in French Immersion because my husband I thought it would challenge him more. They just started reading French this year and before Christmas he joined the Grade 2 class for reading.

    The child LOVES the alphabet, language, grammar and punctuation.

    We always said we didn't want boring children or ones who lack personality, I guess we got our wish with our hyperlexic Aspie and his dare devil little brother.

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    1. Thanks so much for your comments! For a long time we thought Owen had Asperger's as well, and we went through the whole range of diagnoses before we found out about the genetics.

      French Immersion is a great challenge for a kid who absorbs language that quickly - for a while I lived in Montreal, learned French, and then did tech support for Dell in French as well. Great experience! Languages are a superb fit for hyperlexics because they are a challenge not just mentally, but socially as well.

      So much out there in the big wide world for super kids and daredevils to discover and occupy themselves with :D

      Good luck!

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  15. Thanks for this article Jon! It's nothing but encouraging for the unoriented parent. At first I was very worried about the diagnosis when my kid was 2, but now she's 7 and I wouldn't have her any other way. Most people now are hard-pressed to notice anything different about her. What a wonderful and interesting 'disorder'.
    She sounds so much like you and Owen even down to the trouble with loud noises and textures. (A side note, sometimes seeing strange patterns makes her 'itch'. Strangely enough when she points them out to me, they make me itch too! One memorable example is the pox-like ground pattern at Downtown Disney in Orlando.)
    My question is what should I be exposing her to as a kid? I'm sure she's got great visual ability, but she spends most of her time playing on the computer.
    Is there anything you just loved to do as a kid other than reading and writing? Did you ever learn to read music and if so, was it easy for you?
    Should I try to teach her programming languages or get her into decoding? I'm just not sure what's best.

    Thanks!

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    1. Hi! No problem, Taffee! It's kind of bizarre how many people have it, or who's kids have it. That's odd about the strange patterns making her 'itch'. My grandmother couldn't touch peaches, but could eat nectarines. All her fabrics had to be smooth, lol!
      What should you be exposing her to? I would say anything that expands her horizons. I mean, whatever she loves to do. We've been trying to limit Owen's computer time too, because he's such a whiz at it, and he's had a rough time mastering bike riding and such, but it's really good for him. He has other physical issues, and the hard play is essential in working out the stuff that's considered "wiring" in the brain.
      I never did like studying music, but I love dancing and singing. I just suck at it. :)
      I would say get her into whatever she's going to enjoy. Passion fuels brilliance, and if she has passion, that's where she'll be happy.
      Cheers!

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  16. Hello, this may sound silly but how can we differentiate a purely hyperlexic child from those with ASD and hyperlexia? Thanks!

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    1. Hi there! Thanks for your question. Keep in mind I'm not a doctor, but in my opinion it would have to have a qualified diagnosis. Our little Owen has hyperlexia by the virtue of the reading and spelling and such, but he is not ASD in my opinion because he has simply 'tendancies' which are like ASD without the telltale signs. We had a 'provisional' diagnosis of Autism for a while, which allowed us access to services, but it never seemed right. We just didn't know. We kept searching for answers, and it took a long while before genetic testing verified that he has a genetic disorder. If your child seems similar, I would not worry too much about the label, but try to get doctors to get to the root of it while doing everything you can to help them grow and learn :)

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  17. Hello thanks for your quick reply. My son does seem to have similar symptoms as your lovely boy. However, I come from a country where resources are not readily available. May I know what are the things I can do to help him? He's attending weekly speech therapy and occupational therapy. Thanks!

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    1. Some of the things we were worried about at first were his feeding issues. He couldn't eat anything with protein ... I would say if he is eating well, and healthy, then the speech and occupational therapy are very important. Beyond that, we've had to just train ourselves to be very tolerant and understanding, give him time to formulate answers to questions (he takes his sweet time) and to give him as much room to grow and learn as we can give him. Oh, and books. We make certain he has access to lots of books. It sounds like you're already on top of it! Any specific things you think he needs help on?

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  18. Could you direct me to a support group for young adult hyperlexics who are still struggling with learning social skills?

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    1. Unfortunately, I don't know of any. I know for me it was a difficult struggle that I only overcame through jumping into the theatre community. It would really be great if there was one, but I guess it would depend on where you live...

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  19. I wanted to share a bit with my experience as a type III hyperlexic, due to the unknowns and concerns that parents may have with hyperlexic children: I've only discovered my condition in the last year, but have self-diagnosed myself as type III without any doubts.

    Just before age 3, I read the back of a Cheerios box to my parents. My development in reading, writing, and math were significantly higher than my peers. I can actually remember spelling words wrong on purpose in Kindergarten because I wanted to fit in better- I didn't embrace my accelerated skills at first, but as school progressed I did embrace being labeled gifted.

    Around ages 3-10 or so, I recall hypersensitivity (I even had to get specific socks as I could always feel the stitching in the toes, which drove me nuts!) I had a fascination with license plates- I'd look at every single one and memorize the plate numbers of every adults car that I knew. I struggled with eye contact. I had mild behavioral issues in school, presumably due to boredom. The abstract did not make sense, nor did it interest me. I had, and still have, a somewhat photographic memory. I would love to know if this is related, or simply a coincidence.

    Now, as a 28 year old adult; I strongly embrace my hyperlexia. I feel that being supported and challenged with extended learning(though my condition was unknown- I was called "smart" and "kind of weird") I was able to adapt well as my brain developed more. Though I do feel distant in relationships sometimes, I have become a very social person. I developed better skills with eye contact, though it still feels uncomfortable. I am better with the abstract, and hypersensitivity is somewhat muted. I still feel "different" from others, but focusing on learning to be more normal while in my teens and young adulthood allowed me to become sociable, very pragmatic, and have a high emotional quotient in addition to a very high IQ. My hyperlexia has been a strong asset in my success, and I would encourage parents of hyperlexic III children to treat the unique abilities as meaningful and benefitial. I can honestly say that I would be delighted to be the parent of a hyperlexic child, now that I can better understand the condition.

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    1. Thank you so much for sharing. I feel the same, that it's a gift, and not a 'problem' ... and just seeing how it has changed the lives of myself and my son in completely different ways has opened my eyes to the many ways that could exist out there.

      Photographic memory is not something I have ... in fact, I have a crappy memory, which has instilled in me a drive to write things down (helping me to become a writer, more out of habit and practice). From 1987 until a couple of years ago I kept a daily journal, and in my profession as a business rep for a Union, I've had to keep a log book of every contact, so that I don't get in any trouble!

      Our experiences are similar though - in being an outcast, or even just seen as 'different' in school, and blossoming later. I still struggle with contact with people, not for lack of empathy, but for an aversion to intense interaction. It's like it overloads the circuits or something. Owen is not exactly that way, but has many similarities. He's our little 'odd duck', and we couldn't love him more!

      Thanks for posting!

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  20. i absolutely loveeee this post. I have a soon to be 3 year old boy who is energetic, enthusiastic and loveeee to 'learn' he loves books, obsess with alphabets, numbers, colors, shapes and knows them all better than his sister. he is slightly delayed in speech and expressions. he tries to socialize but maybe too young to tell if its a challenge. he is only 2+. he has a photographic memory, lovess hugs and is very affectionate. However, he does like to change his clothes more than 3 times a day, and and loves to take showers. his ability to read surprised almost everyone and he seems to be proud of it. He could memorize supplications and is greattt at imitating speech. he just doesnt express him self much. We have not diagnosed him with any condition as yet, but im loving this extraordinary-ness in him,.

    Do you think i should get him diagnosed? would they regress if not diagnosed at early age? What are your advice for me?

    Thanks in advance!

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    1. Hello Amirah! I've been so neglectful of this blog for so long that I apologize it has taken me a year to get to your post. I'm not sure anyone *needs* to get diagnosed with hyperlexia - there is no 'treatment' and it's not something high on anyone's radar except for the indications of possible autism. Even so, with autism the approach is generally to get them more help at home and at school through social activities to help them enjoy life as everyone does. I feel blessed to be hyperlexic, and it sounds like your son is blessed as well (It makes me smile to hear about the hugs and affection - we are very loving in our family as well) I would say to keep ensuring that he is happy and that he can get his hands on as much reading material as possible, and if there are any delays, try all approaches you can in order to make the struggles easier. Face challenges as a team! Thanks for your post!

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  21. Wow...this blog is a Blessing from God. Thank you so much for sharing this with the world. My son was "Finally Diagnosed" with Hyperlexia several weeks ago just before his fifth birthday. We noticed something was, for the lack of a better word, different at the age of two. When I would read him books at bedtime, I would change some of the words or leave some out, which of course would anger him and I would have to start all over. He could spell his name at the age of two, would fast forward movies so he could read the credits and he loves to have the CC turned on when he watches TV. Now at the age of five, he has a library of maps and star charts. He has most of the constellations memorized along with every planet (and their moons) memorized in order and size. He was counting to 1000 by the age of three. Most days my wife and I cannot keep up with him.

    The main reason for me posting a message is to let you know (and all the other people that posted) I thank you and everyone else, for giving me hope. My biggest concern is that the precious little child I helped bring into this world will have a chance at living a so called "Normal" life.

    Thanks again and God Bless.

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    1. Congratulations on your little astronomer! What a great fascination! With our little guy we're missing the numerical part, which is odd, because he has now, at 9 years old, memorized all the specifications of every Nintendo system ever made. (hoping that comes in handy at some point in life, or at least doesn't hold him back... Thanks for your comments. I do promise to check my blog more often and reply a bit better to everyone. Life has a way of intervening in all the cool stuff we want to do :)

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  22. Thanks so much for sharing this story with all of us. I do not have a statement from a certified doctor, but I am sure my son is much into the spectrum of hyperlexia. He started to read with 4 years and 3 months, and I am sure he was able to recognize letters far earlier, but he was not speaking, so I had no prove. At was only that he start reading, that he begin to talk. Thanks to your article, I am now positive that my son will, as he grows, overcome all the difficulties and become an extraordinary person. Thanks once again..

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    1. Oh thanks so much for your post! I'm sure, too that he will become extraordinary! I feel blessed with hyperlexia as well :)

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  23. Wow this is amazing. I am 47 years old and have recently been diagnosed with Aspergers. I was just searching for some information on Aspergers coping strategies when I discovered the word 'Hyperlexia" and that it is often a trait of Aspergers. I learned to talk fluently and hold intelligent conversations before my first birthday. I learned to read at around the age of 2. My mother tells me I just taught myself, nobody taught me. By the age of 3 i was reading the newspaper out loud and correcting my mother when she spoke with abbreviated words. eg. mum would say "oh there's a plane" at age 3 I would say "no mum that is an aeroplane". I could memorise anything I had heard and was exceptional at maths throughout my school years. I ended up in a career as a software engineer. after 13 years i got bored and went back to study architecture and became and architect. 10 years later I am bored with that and have studied Hypnotherapy as although I am very shy, I do enjoy talking to people and helping them. I am seeking to find out more about Aspergers so that I can help Aspies manage their symptoms through the use of advanced Hypnotherapy techniques. Its a very interesting journey, this thing called life. That's my story in the short version. Thanks so much for posting this interesting story about Hyperlexia. All the best!

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    1. Hi! Thanks for your post! That sounds sooo familiar! Congratulations on the careers! I went from administrator, to customer care rep, to a tower crane operator, to union official ... I've done many things. Operating cranes is the only one that hasn't bored me (yet?) and I feel like that's alright, to keep it interesting. Thanks so much for your comment! :)

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  24. Hi everybody!
    I am writing to ask you for advice. I have learned about hyperlexia a few years ago, I am 29-year-old female living currently in Germany, originally from the East of Europe.
    In the childhood I was hyperlectic and self-taught reader, I learned to read before I went to kindergarten. I was very good in math, I even once won a math competition in the region and won an international trip. I read, read and read....I needed to undergo a speech teraphy, had immense problems with peer-to-peer relationships. I was always a mimer. I was always very intelectuall in my coping. Why I am writing this - sounds like Aspergers, but I think I do not match the criteria for Aspergers.
    Is it possible to be hyperlectic without being on autism? I heard about type III hyperlexia, with autistic-like traits and that diagnosis seems probable for me as I have some autistic-like traits but as I said I don't think I match full criteria for Aspergers. Most of my problems have faded away with time, as if I have outgrown my autistic tendencies. But I still see in myself some differences from the rest of people. What do you think about it?

    I would be very grateful for your comments!
    Svenja

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    1. Hi Svenya. Thank you so much for your comment. It sounds so much like my experience! I know that my son and I are hyperlexic, as that is our diagnosis, and we are both also not Autistic nor Aspies, so I guess it is possible to be one without the other! I myself was much different as a child but have learned some 'coping' techniques to be able to speak with people naturally - but Owen, my son, has difficulty. He is getting better with time as well. I hope this helps!

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