What is Hyperlexia?
"Children are often able to read at a substantially higher grade level but face difficulty with comprehension"
Hyperlexia is a disorder that is typically distinguished by a child’s difficulty with reading comprehension and can present itself in a plethora of ways. Children are often able to read at a substantially higher grade level but face difficulty with comprehension and verbal language. Hyperlexia is often closely related to autism as well as other similar disorders that lie on the same continuum.
What are the Symptoms?
"Difficulty answering the 5 W's (Who, What, When, Where, Why)"
Common signs of hyperlexia that you may have noticed within your child include significant difficulty comprehending and using verbal language, as well as difficulty processing language, difficulty socializing, strong memory, compulsiveness associated with letters and numbers, and difficulty answering the 5 W’s (who, what, where, when and why). You may notice that your child’s strength includes their reading skills and the ultimate goal is to build on that strength in order to strengthen their comprehension and verbal language.
How can it be treated?
"This treatment establishes your child's strength in verbal language, comprehension and higher order thinking"
Treatment can vary depending upon the child and the severity of their symptoms. At Arcadia Literacy and Learning, treatment includes comprehension and verbal language strategies. Through Lindamood-Bell's Visualizing and Verbalizing program, your child be will be taught sequencing, and cause and effect. The program also includes pictures to enhance your child’s visual imagery which will lead them to answer the 5 W’s. This treatment establishes your child’s strength in verbal language, comprehension and hig
her order thinking.