Hyperlexia & The Spiky Profile

A look at the spiky profile of hyperlexia, including what that means and how it looks.

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After years of tests, assessments, and reports, none of the results surprise me any more. And the most recent results from last week were no exception either.

After all, these assessments usually confirm what I already know: that my hyperlexic son has a spiky learning profile.

The thing is these spiky profiles are common in neurodivergent individuals, whether they're autistic, hyperlexic, have ADHD, or fall somewhere else under the umbrella of neurodiversity. 

However, these spiky learning profiles are also poorly understood by many. As a result, many of our kids can get overlooked or mislabeled or their weaknesses might even get ignored.

But what is a spiky profile exactly? 

Well, let's take a look what the spiky profile definition is, what this term refers to, how it looks, and how that might be seen in hyperlexia.

What Does the Term Spiky Profile Mean? A Definition

The term spiky profile describes individuals who excel in certain areas or with certain tasks, but struggle in others. 

In other words, they have asynchronous development where some skills are really well developed and others aren't. 

So, on tests, they might perform highly in some areas and poorly in others and their results might show a wide range of strengths and weaknesses. Their skills will appear to be at a variety of different levels.

In fact, when their skills, strengths, and weaknesses are plotted on a graph, you'll end up with a graph that looks a bit like a mountain range. So it ends up looking spiky with some high peaks and some low valleys. 

You can see that there is a huge disparity between the strengths and weaknesses in this spiky learning profile. A difference that tends to be much greater than for most people. 

Spiky profiles like this are often seen in neurodivergent individuals. They're commonly seen in autistic people and hyperlexic individuals, as we will discuss below. 

Neurotypical individuals, on the other hand, usually have a much more even profile. So when their skills are plotted on a graph it will look less erratic. Sure, they might have a few small bumps in their graph, but it won't have the big discrepancies like you'd find in the spiky profiles of neurodivergent learners. Instead, a neurotypical graph might look more like a flat horizon with a couple of small hills instead of a big spiky mountain range that goes up and down multiple times.

The Spiky Learning Profile Of Hyperlexia

As I've already kind of alluded to, hyperlexic kids definitely have this spiky learning profile. 

Even the definition of hyperlexia itself paints that picture for us. 

After all, as the definition of hyperlexia suggests, they can read, but they struggle with comprehension. So you can already see one big peak and one low valley in the spiky profile (or mountain range) of hyperlexia.

In addition to the decoding and comprehension discrepancy, hyperlexic individuals might test off the charts for math or spelling or visual spatial skills. Yet, they're 6 and still not potty trained.

Or they might show amazing musical talents such as perfect pitch. But give them an open-ended writing assignment or art assignment and they might struggle big time.

The point here is that anytime you go for an assessment, whether that's a speech and language one, an occupational therapy one, or even an academic one, you'll likely see this spiky profile in the results. And that's totally normal for our hyperlexic learners.

Their spiky learning profile serves as a reminder of how important it is to nurture their strengths and talents, while also ensuring that their needs and areas of weaknesses are not ignored. 

Too often, people are quick to label our hyperlexic kids because of this spiky profile. 

They might argue that our kids are lazy in these areas of weakness, as if they just aren't trying hard enough. Or they might suggest that our kids aren't applying themselves or are wasting their high learning potential. They might even label our kids as disruptive and kick them out of certain programs or activities as a result. 

However, the reality is that, often, their spiky learning profile is just poorly understood. I mean how can a kid who excels with this or that struggle so much with this other subject? It's mind-boggling for a lot of people.

Unsurprisingly, our hyperlexic kids can often be mislabeled or even misdiagnosed as a result of their skill profiles.

For instance, a hyperlexic child's weaknesses are often ignored simply because they're overshadowed by their talents. For example, as Robertson (2019) has pointed out, the comprehension difficulties that are common to hyperlexia are often masked by their strong decoding skills. So educators (and many parents) focus solely on that peak, forgetting to target the corresponding valley as well.

Now, your job, as a parent, is to make sure that your hyperlexic child is nurtured and supported accordingly, not just at school, but in other environments as well. That might mean fighting for certain accommodations and supports as part of your child's IEP and making sure the school follows what is outlined in your child's plan. 

You also have to ensure that your child knows that it's okay to ask for help and that they know how to advocate for their needs. After all, teaching self-advocacy skills is incredibly important.

Now, speaking of schools, the spiky profile of hyperlexia can also explain why many parents find it difficult to know what the appropriate educational setting might be for their hyperlexic child (find some tips here). After all, on paper, it can look like these kids have complex educational needs. But they really just need a supportive education. One that will recognize the different ways in which they learn.

Similarly, the spiky profile can also explain why hyperlexic kids can thrive in a variety of different educational experiences and settings. Especially when their amazing skills are recognized and other core skills are well supported.

A Recap of the Spiky Profile of Hyperlexia

Here's a quick recap of what was discussed above about hyperlexia and the spiky learning profile:

• A spiky profile describes individuals who excel greatly in certain areas, but struggle in others

• Refers to asynchronous development where some skills are really well developed and others aren't

• When plotted on a graph, their skills, strengths, and weaknesses will end up looking like a mountain range with high peaks and low valleys

• Spiky profiles are often seen in neurodivergent individuals, including those with hyperlexia

• The definition of hyperlexia itself reflects this spiky profile: they can read, but struggle with comprehension

• It's totally normal to see this spiky profile of asynchronous development with our hyperlexic leaners (e.g., a 6 year old who can multiply and divide, but isn't potty trained yet; a 4 year old with perfect pitch who you can't hold a back and forth conversation with)

• The spiky learning profile serves as a reminder of how important it is to nurture the strengths and to make sure that their needs and areas of weakness aren't ignored

Hopefully you found this information on hyperlexia and the spiky profile helpful!

Other Hyperlexia Resources You'll Love

Understanding the Hyperlexia "Diagnosis"

Gestalt Learning & Hyperlexia: What Does it Mean to be a Gestalt Learner?

Strengths of a Hyperlexic Learner

Vocal Stimming & Verbal Stimming: What You Need to Know

What is vocal stimming and how is it different from verbal stimming? Let's take a closer look at these types of auditory stimming and learn all about vocal and verbal stimming.

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Does your hyperlexic and/or autistic child repeat a lot of noises or specific sounds over and over? If so, they might be doing what's called vocal and verbal stimming.

Since hyperlexic kids, and many autistic kids as well, are gestalt processors and use language rich in intonation, vocal and verbal stims tend to be quite common.

Why is that? Well, gestalt processors often focus on intonation instead of the actual words (see sign #10 here). 

So, that paired with their strong auditory memories make it not only easy to replicate and mimic the fun sounds that they hear, but rewarding as well. When they vocally stim, they get to reward themselves by hearing that intonation pattern over and over. They are giving themselves the sensory information that they love and crave.

I know my son loves to stim vocally and verbally, often repeating and mimicking sounds that clearly bring him immense joy. He went through a phase for months - or maybe it was even years - where he would make these "oo-loo" type sounds over and over. Lately, he's been stimming with a sound that sounds like "bee-doo," where he puts a lot of emphasis on the second syllable and says it quite loudly, often making me jump. Although I scare easily. Just ask my husband or my kids.

Anyway, let's take a closer look at these specific types of auditory stimming called vocal stimming and verbal stimming. You'll see common examples of both, learn why these types of stims are used, and find out why you shouldn't discourage them.

What is Vocal Stimming?

Vocal stimming is a type of stimming that involves repeating noises or sounds using your mouth, lips, and vocal chords. As the name implies, you are repeating certain vocalizations.

Some common examples of vocal stimming include:

• Humming or singing without words

• Making or mimicking noises

• Groaning

• Grunting

• Squealing or shrieking

• Shouting, yelling, or screaming

• Repeating specific sounds

• Whistling

What is Verbal Stimming?

Verbal stimming is a form of vocal stimming where actual words are used instead of just sounds and noises. It is similar to echolalia. However, their functions and purposes differ slightly.

Verbal stimming is often done because repeating the words feel good or because the person stimming likes the sound of the words. It isn't necessarily being used to communicate like echolalia is. 

There is also usually some element of control to both verbal and vocal stimming vs echolalia in that the individual can decide how much, how often, when, and where to vocally stim. 

Here are some common examples of verbal stimming:

• Singing a song or even just specific lyrics

• Repeating words, phrases, or lines from media (books, TV shows, movies, poems, etc.)

• Repeating a single word over and over because it sounds good

• Speaking in accents

• Repeating alliterative phrases or tongue twisters

Reasons Why Your Child Uses Vocal & Verbal Stimming

Now that you have a better understanding of what both vocal and verbal stimming are, let's talk about the reasons why your child uses these vocalizations.

1. Self-Regulation

Stimming is often used for self-regulation purposes. Something I talk about in depth here. So the same applies to vocal and verbal stims as well. These stims can be used to block out sensory input when overstimulated or they can be used to stimulate the senses when understimulated.

I mean how often have you repeated certain phrases to yourself when overwhelmed or anxious? It's the same thing here.

After all, repeating certain vocalizations just feels good! 

2. Self-Expression

Vocal and verbal stims can be a good way to express oneself and how they're feeling. They might repeat a specific phrase or sound over and over not only because it feels good, but because it makes them feel happy (or some other emotion). The vocal stim essentially becomes a way for them to express their emotions and their interests. To them, it's pure joy, loads of fun, and a great way to express themselves.

3. To Explore Sounds & Language

Vocal and verbal stimming is also a great way to explore sounds and language. It gives these individuals an opportunity to just have fun playing around with language. I particularly like how this autistic adult describes their verbal stims as "a massage for my language circuits." I simply love that!

Should You Discourage or Stop Vocal & Verbal Stimming? 

So now that leads to the big question that I see and hear a lot. Should you discourage or stop these vocal stims?

The answer is no. Like other forms of stimming, you should not discourage or try to stop these vocal stims. 

Stims serve a purpose and they likely aren't harming or hurting anyone. So despite what some other autism specialists (ahem, behavior therapists in particular) might say, you shouldn't stop stimming. 

However, I also know what it's like to have to hear the ear piercing shrieking types of stims on a regular basis...There are days where I cannot cope or handle it and that's a me issue, not my son's fault. It's just that some days our sensory needs conflict and compete and the vocal stims simply overwhelm me. 

So instead of discouraging the vocal stims, we usually try one of two things in these instances:

• Redirect or substitute - Things like encouraging a different vocalization or offering a piece of gum or a chewable necklace instead can be a good way to redirect or substitute a vocal stim.

• Change the environment - Either I will remove myself from the room and find somewhere else to go or I will encourage my son to go to another room in the house to continue his vocal stims. It depends on the situation. Or I might just pop in some ear buds and listen to an audiobook instead.

The thing is I recognize the value and importance of his stims, but it's also important to find a balance between his needs and the needs of the rest of the family. 

So while you shouldn't discourage vocal stims as a general rule, sometimes you might have to compromise. And the best ways to do that are by redirecting, substituting, or changing the environment as needed.

A Helpful Video to Learn More About Vocal & Verbal Stimming

If you'd like to learn more about vocal and verbal stimming, I highly encourage you to watch this video from Ask an Autistic. I've also embedded it below for convenience.

A Quick Recap on Vocal Stimming & Verbal Stimming

Okay, I know that was a lot of information, but here's a quick recap on vocal and verbal stimming. Perfect for those of you who skim read.

• Vocal stimming involves repeating noises or sounds using your mouth, lips, and vocal chords

• Verbal stimming is a form of vocal stimming that uses actual words instead of just sounds and noises

• Verbal stimming is similar to echolalia, but their functions and purposes differ slightly

• Vocal and verbal stimming are used for self-regulation, self-expression, and to explore sounds and language

• Vocal and verbal stims should not be discouraged

• However, there are instances when you might have to redirect or substitute them or you could change the environment instead

Hopefully you found this information on vocal stimming and verbal stimming helpful!

Other Stimming Resources You'll Love

Stimming Behaviors in Autism: A Look at Common Types & Examples

What You Need to Know About Your Autistic Child's Stimming

Free Printable Stimming Social Story

Free Days of the Week Word Scramble Printable for Kids

This free printable days of the week word scramble game is perfect for kids of all ages.

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Well, we've already done a months of the year word scramble so it makes sense to do a days of the week one too, right? Of course it does.

This days of the week word scramble is a great little activity for teaching the days of the week. 

It's also a quick activity that will appeal to your hyperlexic child's love for letters and words. Sure,it might not keep them busy for long. It is only 7 words after all! But they'll likely still enjoy the challenge of unscrambling the words.

Why Word Scramble Games are Good for Kids

Word scramble games are a great way for kids to work on vocabulary, spelling, language skills, working memory, problem-solving skills, writing, and so much more! There's a wide range of skills you could target here. Just get creative.

You can use free printable word scramble games like this one at home, in the classroom, or even on the road. Or you could use them in Zoom meetings for online learning (tips on how to do so here). They'd even make a great rainy day activity too!

Also, if you've been looking for other ideas on how to use your hyperlexic child's interests in letters, then word scramble games are a great fit. They definitely build off of a hyperlexic child's interest in letters. I mean the game is literally just a bunch of letters. Besides, using your hyperlexic child's interest to teach new skills is definitely something you should be doing - and something you'll hear me say a lot around here!

So anyway, if you're looking for a quick activity that teaches the days of the week, then give this days of the week word scramble for kids a try.

Download the Free Days of the Week Word Scramble Game

This printable is three pages total. Two versions of the word scramble game are included (one with a word bank and one without the word list). Each game contains all 7 names of the days of the week. An answer key is also included.

To get your copy of the days of the week word scramble, click the link below:

>> Click here to download the free printable

 

Analytic vs Gestalt Language Processors

A look at the differences between analytic vs gestalt language processors.

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Part of learning about hyperlexia is learning all the fancy terminology that comes along with it, such as gestalt language processing and echolalia. 

There's a lot to learn, I know!

But hyperlexic kids are gestalt learners so it's definitely important to learn these things if you want to support your child in the best way possible.

Yet, I know it's easy to get bogged down by fancy jargon you've never heard of and that often seems to be the reality when reading about gestalt processing. 

So I thought it might be helpful to compare gestalt language processing to how language typically develops. Hopefully without using too much jargon. That way you can get a better grasp on how different our hyperlexic kids learn. 

Typically, most kids learn language via analytic processing and start off with single words then move to multiword phrases. And that's probably what you think of when it comes to how language usually develops, right?

Well, hyperlexic kids, on the other hand, don't start with single words. Instead, they learn language using multiword phrases or chunks called gestalts first. Hence, the label of gestalt processing. 

So with that basic understanding under your belt, let's take a closer look at the characteristics of analytic vs gestalt language processors so you can see how else they differ.

Characteristics of an Analytic Language Processor

As I've already mentioned, analytic language processors begin to learn language by using single words, where each of those individual words carries an individual meaning. 

In this method of language acquisition, you eventually move from using single words to using two or three word phrases. 

As a result, language learned in this way is quite flexible and productive. After all, they're learning single words and their meanings and can build larger sentences that reflect what they are wanting to communicate.

Grammar is also a big focus for analytic language processors. However, intonation (the pitch of your voice as you speak) develops later after they shift to longer phrases or utterances.

As noted earlier, analytic language processing is how most people learn language so it's often seen as the default or typical way to acquire and learn language. It's likely the method that you're most familiar with. However, it's not the only way to learn language... 

Characteristics of a Gestalt Language Processor

Hyperlexic kids, as well as most autistic kids, learn language via gestalt processing. They start off learning language in chunks or phrases (remember, these chunks are called gestalts) and use a lot of echolalia to communicate. 

They eventually learn to use single words at later stages in their development, unlike analytic language processors who start off with single words.

Since gestalt language processors learn language in chunks or phrases, they view the phrase or sentence as if it is one word. That means the chunks - not the individual words - carry individual meanings. As a result, language learned in this way ends up being relatively inflexible and situational. 

While they use chunks that might appear to be "grammatically sophisticated" (source), they often aren't picking up on the grammar or meaning. But that's not surprising given that they assign meaning to the entire chunk and don't break the chunks down until later stages of development.

Interestingly though, the language that gestalt language processors use is often rich in intonation. It's animated and lively and somewhat musical.

If you're wondering if your child is a gestalt language processor, you can read more about the signs of gestalt language processing here.

A Recap of the Differences in Analytic vs Gestalt Language Processors 

You can see that there are a few differences between analytic and gestalt language processors. The main difference is that single words are the basic units for analytic processors while chunks or phrases of words serve as the basic units for gestalt processors. Here's a chart that further compares the differences between the two:

If you're looking for a more detailed chart (with much more jargon and technical terms), then you might find this chart from Barry M. Prizant (1983) helpful. I've also included it below for ease of use.

Is Gestalt Language Processing New to You? Here's How You Can Learn More...

If you'd like to learn more about gestalt language processing and Natural Language Acquisition, I highly recommend checking out the Meaningful Speech courses and their Gestalt Language Processing Handbook. Use coupon code DYAN to save 5% on the handbook or courses.

Learn more about the Gestalt Language Processing Handbook & Courses

I hope you found this information about the characteristics of analytic vs gestalt language processors helpful!

Other Gestalt Processing Resources You'll Love

Signs that Your Child is a Gestalt Language Processor

Gestalt Learning & Hyperlexia: What You Need to Know

More Gestalt Language Processing & Echolalia Resources

Signs That Your Child is a Gestalt Language Processor

Wondering what the signs of gestalt language processing are? Well, here are 10+ signs that your child is a gestalt language processor.

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Back in 2020, and continuing on into 2021, I set myself a goal to learn more about gestalt processing because I knew it was a vital part of understanding hyperlexia. 

And boy did I ever learn a lot!

Seriously, certain things about hyperlexia make so much more sense once you learn about gestalt processing. I promise I'll write a post one day that digs more into this particular topic.

But, in the meantime, let's take a look at some signs that your child is a gestalt language processor.

Signs that Your Child is a Gestalt Language Processor

Please keep in mind that not all of these may apply to your child, but they are still signs of gestalt processing that you should be aware of.

1. Uses echolalia or scripts

One of the key signs that your child is a gestalt language processor is the presence of echolalia and scripting. Gestalt language processors learn language in chunks so it makes sense that they would communicate using those same chunks. 

You can read more about the different types of echolalia here.

2. Speaks in third person

For the longest time, I remember my son would say things like, "J (his full name though) have a turn" whenever he wanted a turn to play with something instead of using first person language. I didn't really understand why back them because I didn't know about hyperlexia or gestalt processing at the time. 

The point is: if your child is speaking in third person, it is a sign that they are likely a gestalt processor. It's part of pronoun reversals, which is the next sign we'll discuss.

3. Pronoun reversals

Mixing up pronouns while speaking (aka pronoun reversals) is a common characteristic in both hyperlexic kids and gestalt language processors. It's because they "repeat these pronouns just as [they] hear them without understanding what they mean." (source) You can read more about pronoun reversals here.

4. Are autistic and/or hyperlexic

It's important to note that gestalt language processing is not exclusive to autistic or hyperlexic kids. However, it is extremely common among these populations. I believe it is something like 75% or higher - can't seem to track down the source.

So if your child is diagnosed with either autism or hyperlexia, then there's a high likelihood that they are learning language via gestalt processing.

5. Studies and/or replays media

Gestalt processors will often script from media like books, TV shows, songs, or movies. In particular, you might notice them repeating specific parts of these media over and over. Examples might include reading the same book over and over or rewinding and rewatching a specific clip in a video.

6. Language use is inflexible early on

They rely on scripts and echolalia, but it usually stays the same each time without it being modified. It's not spontaneous and inflexible. However, as they grow and develop, their language will become more flexible and spontaneous.

7. Language seems delayed

How many times have I heard things like, "My child can read, but he can't carry on a conversation or talk well" (or something similar)? The answer is a lot. 

If your child's language seems delayed, then that could indicate that they might be learning language differently and are a gestalt processor instead.

8. Learns to speak in long scripts before single words

This sign isn't surprising given that gestalt processors learn language in chunks. They view one phrase or script as a single word and have trouble breaking down those chunks into their individual words. So it's not surprising that when they do speak, it's in long scripts instead of individual words.

9. Produces long strings of language that are unintelligible 

You or others might consider these unintelligible strings of language jargon. But, often it's just that their little mouths can't keep up with all the words they're trying to spit out. Either way, it's a sign of gestalt processing.

10. Uses and focuses on rich intonation

Often their language uses lots of rich intonation. Now, if you're not sure what intonation means, it refers to how the pitch of your voice goes up and down as you speak. Basically, think of it as how we make speech sound more interesting.

Gestalt language processors often use animated language that is exciting or lively. 

Sometimes, paying close attention to how certain words are emphasized or not can give you a clue into what the gestalt processor's echolalia is trying to communicate versus the actual words themselves.

11. Musical 

Many gestalt learners are naturally musical. Unsurprisingly then, lyrics from songs are often among the first scripts that they use. Case in point: how hyperlexic toddlers often sing the ABCs on repeat. And as if to prove my point further, I can hear my son singing from his room while I type this...good timing!

Their echolalia might also have a musical intonation (relates to previous point about how they focus on rich intonation). For instance, it's been written that hyperlexic kids "will pay more attention to your note than to your voice." (source) 

Maybe you've even noticed that your child responds better when you sing something instead of saying it. Thank goodness my husband is a creative genius when it comes to making up catchy little jingles on the fly. Seriously, I think he was meant to be a jingle writer despite his obvious lack of musical talents otherwise.

12. Language use is situational

Many of the scripts or gestalts that these kids use are tied to specific experiences or feelings. 

Basically, certain phrases just stick because of the emotion that is attached to them, whether that emotion is positive or negative. 

So whatever emotion the child was feeling at the time they learned or acquired that particular script will be connected to that script going forward.

Remember that hyperlexic kids have strong memory skills (see strengths of a hyperlexic learner for more info) so it's really not that surprising that certain scripts would be linked to specific memories or feelings.

As a result, you can see then how their language use ends up being situational and why their language often won't be adaptable to other situations, at least not for some time.

Want to Learn More About Gestalt Language Processing?

If you'd like to learn more about gestalt language processing and the stages of Natural Language Acquisition, I highly recommend checking out the Meaningful Speech courses and their Gestalt Language Processing Handbook. Use coupon code DYAN to save 5% on the handbook or courses.

Learn more about the Gestalt Language Processing Handbook & Courses

A Summary of the Signs of Gestalt Language Processing

Okay I know that was a lot of information. So as a recap, here are the 12 signs that your child might be a gestalt language processor:

• They use echolalia and scripts

• They frequently speak in third person

• They mix up or reverse pronouns

• They are autistic and/or hyperlexic

• They study and/or replay media

• Their language use is inflexible early on

• There are language delays

• They learn to speak in long scripts before single words

• They produce long strings of language that are unintelligible

• They use and focus on rich intonation

• They are musically inclined 

• Their language use is situational for long periods of time

Other Hyperlexia & Language Related Resources You'll Love

Echolalia in Hyperlexia: Terms You Should Know

40 Language Skills that Hyperlexic Kids Might Need Support With

Gestalt Learning & Hyperlexia: What Does it Mean to be a Gestalt Learner?

5 Reasons Why Some Specialists are Hesitant to Discuss Hyperlexia

It's not uncommon for parents of hyperlexic children to get dismissed by specialists when they inquire about hyperlexia. Here are the five most common reasons why some specialists are hesitant to discuss hyperlexia.

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After hours (days, weeks, months, or even years!) trying to find something that describes your child to a tee, you finally stumble across hyperlexia. 

You excitedly think to yourself, "Yes, this is it. This is what my child has." And you're instantly flooded with relief.

Armed with the knowledge that hyperlexia is indeed a thing, you decide to bring up the term to your child's pediatrician, speech therapist, psychologist, or some other specialist, only for them to dismiss it entirely. 

And your heart sinks immediately.

It's an incredibly disheartening scenario.

Unfortunately though, it's the reality for a lot of parents of hyperlexic children.

Yet, when you take a minute to break things down, it's understandable why some specialists are so quick to dismiss the possibility of hyperlexia and it usually comes down to a handful of things. 

So let's take a look at the reasons why some specialists are hesitant to discuss hyperlexia. It might give you a better understanding of why you might be experiencing these roadblocks yourself and might give you the courage you need to advocate for your child. 

5 Reasons Why Some Specialists are Hesitant to Discuss Hyperlexia

While there could likely be a handful of other reasons why some specialists are quick to dismiss the possibility of hyperlexia, these are the most common. 

1. Lack of Knowledge and/or Familiarity with Hyperlexia

Hyperlexia is poorly understood by many, not just specialists. Even well-meaning parents of hyperlexic children don't fully understand what hyperlexia is or isn't. Seriously, if you spend some time in any of the hyperlexia support groups, you'll quickly see what I mean.

The other issue is that so few professionals even know hyperlexia exists in the first place. 

Okay, actually, most people don't know it exists. 

In fact, I hadn't heard of it until my son was about 5. Although, apparently there were two whole sentences dedicated to it in a special education textbook I had for one of my university classes back in the day....Two. No wonder that term didn't stick back then.

So, unfortunately, the possibility of finding a specialist who is both familiar with and knowledgeable about hyperlexia is quite rare.

And it makes sense that specialists would be hesitant to discuss hyperlexia when they don't know much about it themselves. Or don't even know it exists.

The same goes for gestalt processing. Sadly, that's another concept that many specialists aren't familiar with.

Now, I know parents might feel discouraged that the specialists and professionals they speak to might know next to nothing about hyperlexia. 

But think of it as an opportunity to share what you know about hyperlexia and to pass along some information. 

You can always gently encourage them to research hyperlexia and get back to you. Or you could always seek a second opinion. But, let's be honest, there's no guarantee that the next one will know what hyperlexia is either.

If you're a therapist who is reading this, then please continue to read and research hyperlexia (like you obviously already are!). Parents around the world are desperate for support and are relying on finding professionals who can actually help.

2. They Don't Think Hyperlexia is Actually the Right Fit for Your Child

Now, sometimes it's not the specialist's lack of knowledge or familiarity with hyperlexia that's the underlying issue here. Instead, sometimes it's actually the opposite and they legit don't think hyperlexia is actually what your child has.

Sometimes people are quick to label their child as hyperlexic even when they don't fully grasp what hyperlexia is. So the child might check one box, but miss other key characteristics that make up hyperlexia. 

For example, they might have an intense interest in letters, but they don't read (the reading is the hallmark characteristic after all so without it, it's not hyperlexia). Or they might not have the social or language issues that accompany hyperlexia so the child could actually just be an early reader vs a hyperlexic one. Or maybe the kid is simply just gifted.

Regardless, if a specialist dismisses hyperlexia after meeting with you and your child, then dig deeper and ask them why. Is it because of one of the other reasons on this list? Or is it because they really don't think it's the appropriate label for your child? Obviously, there's a big difference between the two.

3. Lots of Debate About How to Actually Define Hyperlexia

Another big issue is that there is still a lot of debate about how to best define hyperlexia. 

For example, should we include all early self-taught readers or reserve the term only for those who are otherwise neurodivergent? Is it a splinter skill or savant skill? Is it something they outgrow or not? And so on...

Although there is some debate, it is worth noting that there is consensus that the two main features are the early self-taught reading ability and the comprehension issues. Those two features are well-documented in the literature and should not be ignored.

However, since there's debate around the definition, it's not surprising that hyperlexia isn't an actual standalone diagnosis yet. Nor is there a standardized way to assess it at this point. Which leads me to my next two points...

4. Hyperlexia isn't an Actual Diagnosis (at least not yet)

Many parents - myself included - would love to see hyperlexia as a standalone diagnosis one day, much like dyslexia is.

However, at this point in time, hyperlexia isn't a standalone diagnosis. 

Instead, think of hyperlexia as a practical label that helps you understand how an individual learns. A unique learning style, in other words.

But, since it's not an official diagnosis in diagnostic manuals at this point, you can see why specialists might be quick to dismiss it.

So to receive a written confirmation of hyperlexia is pretty rare. 

However, specialists who are familiar with and knowledgeable about hyperlexia can definitely help give an informal diagnosis or, at the very least, acknowledge that the term hyperlexia is a good fit for your child.

5. There's No Standardized Way to Assess Hyperlexia

It's not surprising that there isn't a standardized test for hyperlexia, especially given the previous two points. I mean how do you assess something when its definition and criteria are still widely debated?

Over the years, there have been a few attempts to create assessment and diagnostic tools for hyperlexia. For instance, there was a psychologist who was developing something called the Hyperlexia Profile Builder a number of years ago. I was given a copy of it at that time, but not sure what the status of this tool is today. And my attempts to follow up with the psychologist in the past couple of years have been nothing but a collection of bounced emails so it doesn't look too promising...

It is also worth noting that there's a recent study by Solazzo et al. (2021) who created a hyperlexic trait score measurement. Perhaps that could be a tool we use in the future to assess hyperlexia. Who knows.

Regardless, there's nothing widely available to therapists at this point. 

Currently, assessments of hyperlexia often include a variety of things, such as a parental interview, the child's developmental history, assessments of speech and language, and more. You can read more about how to diagnose hyperlexia here. There just isn't a specific hyperlexia related tool available at the moment that I'm aware of.

Needless to say, it's kind of hard to assess something when there's no standardized tool or way to evaluate it.

So Where Does this Leave Us?

Well, it often leaves parents frustrated with the process. They finally have a term to describe their child and are, instead, often met with a lack of support from the professionals they turn to for advice. 

It also means that there is clearly a lot of work to be done to improve awareness for hyperlexia and to get it on the radar of professionals around the world.

We could also benefit from better education that teaches professionals not only about the big developmental diagnoses, but the lesser known ones as well. Education that also challenges ableist and outdated notions would be nice too. A girl can dream, right?

We also need more research on hyperlexia. Research that can settle debates and find clear cut traits that can help us development proper assessment tools.

In the meantime though, I'll keep writing about and spreading the word about hyperlexia, while digging through hundreds of pages of research, in hopes that more and more people will learn about hyperlexia. And I hope you will continue to advocate and bring awareness to hyperlexia as well. Goodness knows, I can't do this alone. 

Other Hyperlexia Resources You'll Love

How to Diagnose Hyperlexia inn Young Children: What's Involved?

7 Mistakes Professionals Make When it Comes to Hyperlexia

I Think my Child is Hyperlexic...Now What?