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Hyperlexia in autistic adults

Lotus

Recently the subject of hyperlexia came up on another thread where I briefly discussed it, but I've since been wondering if it can help mask autism.

Hyperlexia in children is categorized by word reading ability well above what would be expected for their age, and an intense fascination for written material from an early age. It is now thought that there are three types of hyperlexia, and type 2 occurs in children with autism - they often prefer books and magnetic letters over other toys, and frequently remember important numbers like license plates and birth dates.

In adults, hyperlexia includes preferring written communication over verbal conversation, feeling more comfortable writing than speaking, a love of language, patterns & wordplay, and getting lost in a book. Here is a link to a fuller description:

https://www.sagebrushcounseling.com/blog/hyperlexia-in-adults

I'm wondering if an ability to be incredibly articulate in writing helps mask verbal communication problems?

Parents

  • I am very late to this thread, sorry. I have been thinking a lot about my obsession with words, letters, reading and language though and hyperlexia seems to be an answer. I don't think I was reading at a ludicrously early age but I took to reading very quickly and read a vast amount as a child. As kids we would take six library books each on holiday and I would read all of mine, all of my sisters (hence my knowledge of lacrosse and 1950's girls boarding schools!) and then read all mine again. I would read with a torch under the bed covers for hours after I was supposed to be asleep. I still read a lot now but more of it than I would like is on my phone. I did an IQ test recently and found all the language questions very easy, while others were much more of a challenge.

    Regarding the idea that the written word can mask issues with verbal communication, I don't think that I look at it that way. My written communication is way better than spoken so I naturally prefer it as a way to be understood but I don't think I am masking by having a preference. It just allows me to consider what I am saying and decide how to phrase it perfectly. I like to be very clear in my written communications and find it very annoying if someone responds with a question or statement that makes it clear that they haven't read what I wrote properly! All the information is in the task!

Reply

  • I am very late to this thread, sorry. I have been thinking a lot about my obsession with words, letters, reading and language though and hyperlexia seems to be an answer. I don't think I was reading at a ludicrously early age but I took to reading very quickly and read a vast amount as a child. As kids we would take six library books each on holiday and I would read all of mine, all of my sisters (hence my knowledge of lacrosse and 1950's girls boarding schools!) and then read all mine again. I would read with a torch under the bed covers for hours after I was supposed to be asleep. I still read a lot now but more of it than I would like is on my phone. I did an IQ test recently and found all the language questions very easy, while others were much more of a challenge.

    Regarding the idea that the written word can mask issues with verbal communication, I don't think that I look at it that way. My written communication is way better than spoken so I naturally prefer it as a way to be understood but I don't think I am masking by having a preference. It just allows me to consider what I am saying and decide how to phrase it perfectly. I like to be very clear in my written communications and find it very annoying if someone responds with a question or statement that makes it clear that they haven't read what I wrote properly! All the information is in the task!

Children
  • in reply to McFrost

    My dad can read books very fast. He'd read something in a couple days that'll take me a month.

    Do you remember all the info, or do you just whizz through it ?

    I often read sentences or paragraphs more than once. I am not sure why; I think it is because I am trying to create a mental image as I read. 

    I am curious because while I can skim read technical documents, I can't with fiction or non-fiction books, so I wonder what it is like?