Hyperlexia in autistic adults

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!

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?

It depends what I am reading of course but I would say I do probably read fast. I don't tend to so much with books that I am reading for enjoyment but if I am looking at something I need for information purposes I can skim through very quickly and get the information I need easily. I think I have a thing where I just recognise the shape of words very fast and don't really need to read them, if that makes sense, but I have no idea if that's the same for everyone else because I have never checked!

Another thing I find weird is that I can read out loud to my kids and be having an entirely different thought process going on in my brain at the same time. I can read pages and pages like that and not make mistakes (although I would imagine I am quite monotone!) and then kind of come to, with no memory of anything I read. Again, I don't know if that is abnormal or not.

I certainly don't think I am massively hyperlexic, I wasn't a reading prodigy or anything but I feel a very strong affinity for the written word that I have had all my life.

It depends what I am reading of course but I would say I do probably read fast. I don't tend to so much with books that I am reading for enjoyment but if I am looking at something I need for information purposes I can skim through very quickly and get the information I need easily. I think I have a thing where I just recognise the shape of words very fast and don't really need to read them, if that makes sense, but I have no idea if that's the same for everyone else because I have never checked!

Another thing I find weird is that I can read out loud to my kids and be having an entirely different thought process going on in my brain at the same time. I can read pages and pages like that and not make mistakes (although I would imagine I am quite monotone!) and then kind of come to, with no memory of anything I read. Again, I don't know if that is abnormal or not.

I certainly don't think I am massively hyperlexic, I wasn't a reading prodigy or anything but I feel a very strong affinity for the written word that I have had all my life.

McFrost said:

if I am looking at something I need for information purposes I can skim through very quickly and get the information I need easily. I think I have a thing where I just recognise the shape of words very fast and don't really need to read them, if that makes sense, but I have no idea if that's the same for everyone else because I have never checked!

Another thing I find weird is that I can read out loud to my kids and be having an entirely different thought process going on in my brain at the same time. I can read pages and pages like that and not make mistakes (although I would imagine I am quite monotone!) and then kind of come to, with no memory of anything I read. Again, I don't know if that is abnormal or not.

I so relate to you on this

I once caught myself reading a student's script whilst writing an unrelated comment - it was very strange!

Scanning academic text is easy, as is assimilating information on unknown and unlearnt topics to be put together for some written piece. I have little understanding of the context/material however the output is, apparently, real and plausible.

LOTR took me three days when I was 16 - and by this time I had read most of the literature books in the village library.  At 55, I ran through the 7 Harry Potter books in 7 days. HOWEVER, once a book is closed I struggle to recall any characters or plot, yet am immediately back in the story once I start reading again.  

Have you tried one of those online reading speed tests? There are different ones and it's interesting as there is both the speed and understanding element. My son is at least double my speed and I'm not a slow reader, but it was interesting as he also had a good understanding too! It's a great skill you have either way!