Hyperlexia Research & Journal Articles

Hyperlexia research papers and scientific journal articles. For nerdy people like me who want to dig deeper into their knowledge about hyperlexia and get a better understanding of this incredibly unique learning profile.

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I am a research junkie. In particular, I love to read through academic and scientific journals about topics that are of high interest to me, namely hyperlexia.

Just the other week someone in my hyperlexia support group (now defunct sorry - join the free Hyperlexia Hub community instead) had a good chuckle about me reading an article about fMRI imaging and hyperlexia on a Saturday morning! See, totally nerdy!

So, if you are interested in learning about hyperlexia through scientific research and academic journals, then you're in the right spot. There are over 50 hyperlexia research articles and studies below to read through that all have open access or PDFs available to download. You know...in case you need a little light bedtime reading...

This post was last updated on March 18, 2025. New research papers were added, dead/broken links were removed, and the articles were arranged into new sections.

Hyperlexia Research

The academic articles and research below are included for informational purposes only. Inclusion of the links below are not necessarily reflective of my opinions. In fact, I haven't even read most of these yet! So, really, this list of articles is as much for me to read through as it is for you.

Please note that I've only included links to those articles that have open access or PDFs available. There are plenty of other research papers on hyperlexia that aren't included here, simply because they don't have open access or are hidden behind a paywall.

At the time of publishing this blog post, all links worked. The following links will redirect to you the full text version, PDF directly, and/or a place where you can download the PDF.

Research Articles from 2020-Current

• Enhanced Interest in Letters and Numbers in Autistic Children by Ostrolenk et al. (2024)

• The Effects of Story Mapping and Video Modeling on Reading Comprehension in Students with Hyperlexia by Keebler Dresner (2024)

• A Longitudinal Study on Language Acquisition in Monozygotic Twins Concordant for Autism and Hyperlexia by Ostrolenk et al. (2023)

• Hyperlexia in a Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Case Report by Filipova, Jovchevski, & Torte-Chiche (2023)

• Meta-Linguistic Awareness Skills in Chinese-Speaking Children with Hyperlexia: A Single-Case Study by Luo & Su (2023)

• Hyperlexia in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Review Study by Barby et al. (2023) - not in English

• Is it Hyperlexia? Toward a Deeper Understanding of Precocious Reading Skills in Two Cases of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder by Mammarella et al. (2022)

• Hyperlexia in 3-Year-Old Twins With and Without Autistic Spectrum Disorder by Mui Hoon Ng (2021)

• Measuring the Emergence of Specific Abilities in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Example of Early Hyperlexic Traits by Solazzo et al. (2021)

• Hyperlexia What Syndrome is This? Reflex and Reflections of Literacy Products by Oliveira & Rangni (2021) - not in English

• The Schooling Process of Children with ASD: Interface Between Behavioral Management and Hyperlexia by Soares da Cruz et al. (2021) - not in English

• Understanding Emergent Literacy and Improving Reading Comprehension of Preschool Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Hyperlexia by Macdonald (2020)

Research Articles from 2010-2019

• Profile of Hyperlexia: Reconciling Conflicts Through a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis by Zhang & Joshi (2019)

• Hyperlexia: Systematic Review, Neurocognitive Modelling, and Outcome by Ostrolenk et al. (2017)

• Remediating Comprehension Deficits in Hyperlexia: The Scaffolding Interrogative Method by Mui Hoon NG (2014)

• Effectiveness of Scaffolding Interrogatives Method: Teaching Reading Comprehension to Young Children with Hyperlexia in Singapore by Chia & Kee (2013)

• Reading Skills in Children Diagnosed with Hyperlexia: Case Reports by Lamonica et al. (2013)

• Hyperlexia, a Case Study: When the Co-occurrence of Developmental Disorders Favors Language Talent by Ferreira (2013)

• Reading Comprehension in Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Role of Oral Language and Social Functioning by Ricketts et al. (2013)

• A Brief Updated Examination of the Enigma of Hyperlexia by Ng (2013)

• Veridical Mapping in the Development of Exceptional Autistic Abilities by Mottron et al. (2013)

• Effectiveness of Instructional Strategies in Reading Comprehension for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Hyperlexia by Abnett (2013)

• What are the Mechanisms Behind Exceptional Word Reading Ability in Hyperlexia? Evidence from a 4-Year-Old Hyperlexic Boy's Invented Spellings by Cardoso-Martins et al. (2013)

• Establishing a Psycho-Educational Profile and Assessment of a Boy Suspected with Hyperlexia: A Single-Subject Case Study by Chua (2013)

• Reading Comprehension for Children with Hyperlexia - A Scaffolding Method by Mui Hoon NG & Kok Hwee Chia (2012)

• Hyperlexia and Dyslexia in Autism: Hitting a Moving Target by Williams & Casanova (2012)

• The Effectiveness of Semantic Aspect of Language on Reading Comprehension in a 4-Year-Old Child with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and Hyperlexia by Rabiee & Shahrivar (2012)

• Teaching Children with Autism to Read for Meaning: Challenges and Possibilities by Randi et al. (2010)

• Developmental Dissociations Between Lexical Reading and Comprehension: Evidence from Two Cases of Hyperlexia by Castles et al. (2010)

• Understanding the Complexities of Hyperlexia and its Subtypes by Leong (2010)

• Echo Induction Test for Hyperlexia and Ambient Echolalia in a Case with Cerebral Infarction by Suzuki (2010) - not in English

Research Articles from 2000-2009

• Hyperlexia in a 4-year-old boy with Autistic Spectrum Disorder by Atkin & Lorch (2006)

• Patterns of Reading Ability in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder by Nation et al. (2006)

• Hyperlexia in a Patient with Autistic Disorder and its Hypothesis by Baldacara et al. (2006) - not in English

• The Neural Basis of Hyperlexic Reading: An fMRI Case Study by Turkeltaub et al. (2004)

• A Longitudinal Case Study of a Hyperlexic Child by Hopper at el. (2004)

• Annotation: Hyperlexia: Disability or Superability? by Grigorenko et al. (2003)

• Comprehension in Children with Hyperlexia by Lester (2003)

• Hyperlexia Profiles by Kennedy (2003)

• Reading Words and Reading Minds: An Investigation of the Skills of Children Diagnosed with Hyperlexia by Rosen (2001)

Research Articles Prior to 2000

• Hyperlexia by Kupperman et al. (1998)

• Semantic Memory Impairment Does Not Impact on Phonological and Orthographic Processing in a Case of Developmental Hyperlexia by Glosser et al. (1997)

• Clues to the Cognitive Organization of Reading and Writing From Developmental Hyperlexia by Glosser et al. (1996)

• Linking Reading with Meaning: A Case Study of a Hyperlexic Reader by Worthy & Invernizzi (1995)

• Hyperlexia: Description, Prognosis and Implications for Family Counseling by Stuart (1993)

• Brief Report: Implications of Hyperlexia in an Autistic Savant by Patti & Lupinetti (1993)

• The Syndrome of Hyperlexia vs. High Functioning Autism and Asperger's Syndrome by Kupperman et al. (1992)

• Hyperlexia and Dyslexia: A Family Study by Healy & Aram (1986)

• Theoretical Implications of the Hyperlexia Syndrome: Two New Italian Cases by Cossu & Marshall (1986)

• Inquiry Into the Incidence of Hyperlexia in a Statewide Population of Children with Pervasive Developmental Disorder by Burd et al. (1985)

• Variability in IQ Scores and Prognosis of Children with Hyperlexia by Graziani et al. (1983)

• A Study of Hyperlexia by Healy et al. (1982)

• Hyperlexia as a Variant of Developmental Language Disorder by Richman & Kitchell (1981)

• Case Histories in Hyperlexia by Silberberg & Silberberg (1968)

• Obadiah, a Child with Numerical Obsession by Parker (1918) - likely one of the first documented cases of hypernumeracy

• A Pseudo-Talent for Words: The Teacher's Report to Dr. Witmer by Parker (1917) - likely one of the first documented cases of hyperlexia

Hopefully, you're able to find some time to dig through this hyperlexia research. It's really quite fascinating to read through and learn about.

Free Printable Neurodiversity Coloring Bookmarks

Free printable neurodiversity coloring bookmarks. They're perfect for Neurodiversity Celebration Week or Autism Acceptance Month.

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As far as I'm concerned, you can never have enough bookmarks. But...I also always have multiple books on the go so I kind of need multiple bookmarks.

Anyway, since it's currently Neurodiversity Celebration Week, why not print off and color some of these awesome neurodiversity coloring bookmarks! They feature inclusive phrases paired with brain and floral clipart.

Ready to celebrate neurodiversity and promote inclusion while you read? Then these are for you!

About these Neurodiversity Coloring Page Bookmarks

Below, you will find eight coloring page bookmarks, in two orientations, that celebrate neurodiversity and brains of all kinds. Each bookmark is 8" x 2.5" and features clipart paired with simple neurodiversity related phrases. The phrases included are:

• Celebrate neurodiversity

• Neurodiversity is beautiful.

• The world needs all kinds of minds.

• All brains are beautiful

You can color these bookmarks during Neurodiversity Celebration Week, Autism Acceptance Month, or similar themed events. But you can also really use them any day of the year as a way to promote inclusion and celebrate neurodiversity.

Once colored, feel free to laminate them for durability. Here's the laminator I use and love. You could also hole punch and attach a ribbon to the finished bookmark if you'd like.

Download the Free Neurodiversity Coloring Bookmarks

This printable pack is two pages total and includes a total of eight different bookmarks designs, with two different orientations. There are four that are meant to be read horizontally and four that are designed to be read upright.

To get your copy of the neurodiversity coloring bookmarks, click the link below:

>> Click here to download the free printable

 

Free Printable Neurodiversity I Spy Game

This free printable neurodiversity I spy game for kids is a perfect way to work on a variety of skills! It would be a great activity for Neurodiversity Celebration Week or Autism Acceptance Month.

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When you think of neurodiversity what come to mind? A brain? An infinity symbol? Specific colors? A specific neurotype? Specific terms like acceptance or inclusion?

Well, that's what this free printable neurodiversity I spy game is all about. It includes a variety of symbols that might represent neurodiversity, from the infinity symbol and fidgets to a butterfly and a brain.

You can use this I spy game as an activity for Neurodiversity Celebration Week, Autism Acceptance Month, or whenever really.

I Spy Games are Versatile!

I spy games are tons of fun and great for kids of all ages. You can use them with toddlers or preschoolers or even preteens and teens. I know that lots of people have even used my I spy games with elderly people and those with dementia.

What I love about I spy games is how versatile they are, even beyond appealing to various age groups. There are lots of different ways to use them (there's a section below with some ideas) and they can also be used in different settings.

For example, I spy games are perfect to use as a quick boredom buster activity at home when the kids are saying, "I'm bored!" Or to keep kids busy while you're cooking supper.

They can also be used in the classroom as part of a learning center or included in a specific lesson or unit. You could also use them as filler activities for those kids who finish their classwork quickly.

You could also print off a bunch of the I spy games, package them up into a binder, and create a busy book for road trips or plane rides. You could even laminate them first (here's the laminator I use and love) or put them into sheet protectors and use a dry erase marker so that the book could be reused over and over.

I spy games are also a great activity to use in speech or occupational therapy since they can be used to target a variety of skills, which we'll touch on in the next section.

The Benefits of I Spy Games for Kids

There are lots of benefits to playing I spy games like this neurodiversity themed one.

For instance, they're great for developing visual tracking skills and improving visual discrimination. After all, these printable games require kids to visually scan through the objects, compare and contrast them, and find all the ones that are the same.

Then there's obviously the math benefits. I spy games are a great way to practice and develop math skills such as sorting, counting, comparing, etc.

You can also work on fine motor skills using I spy games. You might cross off items, cover them in play dough, or use tongs to place pom poms to cover the items (see the next section for other ideas for how to use I spy games).

Furthermore, you could work on handwriting skills with I spy games. After all, there is an answer sheet to record your answers and kids can practice writing numbers or drawing tally marks.

Playing I spy games with your kids is also a great way to work on speech and language skills. You could target articulation and vocabulary for instance. All of my I spy games include written words to accompany the images to aid in comprehension, especially for hyperlexic learners.

I spy games can also be a great way to work on executive functioning related skills and working memory.

See, lots of benefits! Now, let's take a look at some different ways to use this I spy game.

How to Use this I Spy Game

The most obvious way to use this I spy game is to simply print and play (you'll be able to download your copy below). Just grab a pencil, start counting, and record the number of items you found on the answer key (write the number or use tally marks, if you'd prefer). 

Maybe you also want to cross off or circle items on the game sheet with a pencil as you find them.

Another option would be to use bingo dabbers or dot markers. You could also use pom poms or counters to cover the items as you count. You could even pair pom poms with tongs or tweezers to target different fine motor skills.

You could also laminate the I spy game first to make them reusable. Simply use dry erase markers to cross off the items as you find them and fill in the answer key. 

You could also use play dough instead of dry erase markers to cover the items on the laminated game sheet. That way you add an additional sensory component.

Finally, you can go digital by playing this I spy game right on the computer or tablet. You can also pull it up during a Zoom meeting, teletherapy session, or similar using the screenshare function. Then use the annotate tool to cross off the items.

Download the Free Printable Neurodiversity I Spy Game

This neurodiversity I spy game has three pages: a game sheet, a page to record the answers, and an answer key. Both the answer sheet and answer key include the image as well as written words to describe the object.

To get a copy of this I spy game, click the link below:

>> Click here to download the free printable

 

Want More I Spy Games?

You'll find even more themes in the I spy games bundle!

Click here to get your copy of the I spy games bundle

Free My Amazing Brain Printable for Kids

Celebrate neurodiversity with this free my amazing brain printable for kids. It would also be great for an all about me unit at school.

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Everyone's brain is different and unique and we should be celebrating differences. After all, neurodiversity is a fact of life.

This free my amazing brain printable is a great way for kids to show off what makes their brain awesome. It encourages them to think about what makes their brain different and unique.

You can use this printable as an activity for an all about me unit or as an activity for Neurodiversity Celebration Week. Or you can use it just to build some confidence with your child.

About this My Amazing Brain Printable Pack

While I originally created this printable as part of a Neurodiversity Celebration Week activity, it can really be used any day of the year as a way to build self-esteem and confidence with kids. Or you could use it as part of an all about me unit at school.

You could also use this printable as part of your ongoing conversations with your child about their neurodivergence, like when you're telling them they're autistic or hyperlexic, for instance.

Regardless of how or when you want to use this printable, the goal is to help kids show off and celebrate what makes their brain amazing and unique. It's about highlighting strengths, interests, thoughts, skills, and preferences by using words, images, drawings, and colors that best represent the child.

How to Use this Printable That Celebrates Neurodiversity

To use this printable, simply decorate the brain with things that make your brain unique and amazing. That might be things that represent your interests, your abilities, your preferences, your thoughts, your skills...whatever makes you you! You could try decorating it with:

• Drawings

• Handwritten words

• Stickers

• Craft items (e.g., glitter, pom poms, foam shapes, ribbons, craft feathers, buttons)

• Words clipped out of newspapers or magazines

• Images clipped out of newspapers or magazines

• Photos

• Stamps

• Words typed out with a label maker

• Paint, crayons, markers, gel pens, or similar in a variety of colors

The possibilities are endless really! The goal is to try and represent your unique brain as best as you can with a wide variety of images, colors, words, and materials.

Download the Free My Amazing Brain Printable

This printable pack is four pages in total and includes four different templates. There are two that show a top-down view of the brain, one that shows a side view using a dashed line for the outline, and one that shows a sideview inside a head. Feel free to pick the style that appeals to you the most.

To get your copy of the my amazing brain printable, click the link below:

>> Click here to download the free printable