Asperger Syndrome & Hyperlexia

» mamajill - hyperlexia

My daughter, diagnosed with Aspergers, has also shown many of the characteristics of hyperlexia. She taught herself to read before the age of 3, to add and subtract by age 2. She does have a fascination with numbers and is placed in an advanced math program at school--she will be taking math at the jr. college by the time she is a sophomore in high school! As I read through the article I saw more areas where she displays hyperlexia rather than Aspergers. As she has gotten older (diagnosed at 8, now 13) she does not have a problem with transitions or changes. She does not display self stim. behaviors or think concretely. She does however have a selective hearing gene that is stronger than anyone else's I know! Thank you for this article and the links you provided with it!

-- posted by mamajill

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» Edda - Re: hyperlexia

Jill,

Your hyperlexia discussion is fascinating! Even though I did not learn to read until I was in school, I feel the seeds of my strong reading ability were planted in me very young. My mother read to me practically from the time I was born and, by the time I was a year old, I grew really fascinated by books. She joked that I could read by the time I was a year old because I could recognize records by their pattern. I don't know if I actually could read then, but I feel the preparation was there.

I started school knowing only German, but by the time I was in first grade, I was reading English at a fifth grade level. By sixth grade, I had vocabulary scores approaching college level. I made good grades in school, but I was socially inept and not very athletic. Like your daughter, I do not have problems with abstract concepts, handle change well for the most part (unless it comes about as the result of somebody's irresponsibility), and can focus on things I like for a long period of time. My mother said my ability to concentrate was better than most anybody she knew. Strong language ability, organization, and concentration span are my greatest strengths. Social awkwardness and a tendency to develop "tunnel vision," are among my weaknesses.

Thank you for this very interesting article!

-- posted by Edda

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