Hyperlexia

Hyperlexia is when a child reads words far above their age level but understands less of what they read. Ostrolenk and colleagues describe three parts: the child reads better than they understand, learns to read early without being taught, and is drawn to written words. There's no specific test for it. Instead, a speech-language pathologist (SLP) or psychologist looks at how your child reads, talks and understands.

It's most often described in autistic children, but only a minority of them have it. Early reading on its own isn't a sign of autism. Some early readers with autism-like traits need to be told apart from autism, too. Researchers differ on how to see it. Some call it a strength or another path into language, while others call the gap in understanding a reading disorder.

Your child might read signs, books or letter magnets well before other kids their age. Still, they may not follow what a sentence means or what you say. Many autistic children have an intense interest in letters, even those who speak few or no words. Because of the link with autism, a clinician may suggest an autism evaluation. Therapists may use that interest in letters as a way in to build language.

• Reading and understanding: Ask your Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) how the team will check what your child understands, beyond what they can read aloud.
• Using the interest: Ask whether your child's love of letters can be built into language goals.
• Working with other specialists: Ask how your BCBA and your child's speech therapy team will share what they see.