Hyperlexia is a rare disorder in which a child is able to read beyond his or her expected reading level, but does not possess the ability to understand what he or she reads. A youngster with the condition will often display a high interest in letters or numbers, and have trouble interacting with others. The condition is usually diagnosed when a child is 18- to 24-months old and shares traits with autism, behavior disorders, emotional disorders, and attention deficit disorder. No known cure exists for hyperlexia.
Even though a person with hyperlexia may display a high reading ability, he or she will often have trouble communicating ideas. Symptoms of hyperlexia can include a fixation for routines, abnormal fears, trouble forming relationships, and selective listening. A hyperlexic individual will usually not be the first to engage in conversation and often possesses a strong capacity for memorizing through imagery. Typically, a youngster with the condition will display normal development, but then around 24 months of age, he or she often begins to noticeably slow down in developing.
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An individual with the syndrome generally will teach him- or herself to read. It is usually common for a hyperlexic child to display disinterest in participating in peer activities because of a strong fascination for reading. To a hyperlexic child, reading is generally a compulsion and the capacity for reciting words often exceeds his or her likely intellectual level.
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While it is not exactly known what triggers the disorder, there are some ways of detecting it. A child with the condition can have a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test pick up unusual activity on his or her left side of the brain. Psychologists often suggest that the disorder arises from a difference in the youngster’s brain during development. To determine if the condition exists, psychological tests often focus on visual methods instead of oral capabilities. A qualified speech and language pathologist can also often identify the disorder.
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Hyperlexia is generally connected with some kind of pervasive developmental disorder and the syndrome may often appear similar to autism. A hyperlexic child, however, is different from an autistic youngster. Often, a hyperlexic child will grow out of his or her antisocial behavior as the command of language increases.
A variety of techniques exist for parents, teachers, and other professionals to assist a hyperlexic child. Intervention methods generally concentrate on improving language and understanding skills. A child can often improve his or her skills through rigorous speech and language therapy, as well as by participating in early intervention programs.