Hyperlexia

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-15-2006
Hyperlexia
3
Wed, 04-05-2006 - 1:42pm

Hi Everyone...

I'm back again to pick your brains...LOL

Do any of your children have Hyperlexia?

If so, how did they incorporate it in their IEP?

My son Matt has Asperger's, SI Dysfunction, and auditory language processing deficit (officially). He is also Hyperlexic. He has a complete evaluation at school coming up and I would like them to look into this when the eval him.
What kind of observations/testing would they do?

I heard of some Visual Spacial Motor problems that these kids have. Is there a way for the evaluators to look into this? If so, who would do this? The OT, psychologist, speech/language pathologist?

Thanks..

Carol

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: momof3fabkids
Wed, 04-05-2006 - 4:25pm

Hello there, Cait is hyperlexic and Mike has a similar profile but isn't specifically hyperlexic.

First, as for things like visual spatial, he should be tested in all areas of suspected disability. Visual perception is often done with testing as a given. At least with my kids it has been. Or actually more visual motor integration. OT's give it or psychologists. Ask for that area to be evaluated if there is a concern.

The other concern for hyperlexia is comprehension. Make sure to look into what his comprehension of his reading is. If there is a big discrepancy between his decoding and comprehension you may want to address it, particularly if his comprehension is behind grade level. Cait's comprehension has been pretty much at her grade level though her decoding is 4-5 years ahead. However, I haven't addressed it because her school work tends to be all right around grade appropriate and pulling her out for this in particular for her would do more harm than good. She has speech for conversation and language comprehension. Hopefully as that gains ground her reading comprehension and written langauge will improve.

Lastly, they should use his hyperlexia as a tool to help teach him. Most kids with hyperlexia are very visual learners. They do well with written checklists, etc. Reading is also often a good reinforcer for them. So for instance, good behavior at school all week could be rewarded with a trip to the school library on friday. Or perhaps for completing homework they can have extra reading time in class.

HTH

Renee

Photobucket
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-15-2006
In reply to: momof3fabkids
Wed, 04-05-2006 - 9:57pm

Renee,

Yes that was very helpful. I've been trying to tell the school this since last September. I have the consent form for the eval, I was just waiting on some input from others who have been thru this before I requested specific areas. The information you gave me is great. Thanks again.

Carol

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2000
In reply to: momof3fabkids
Thu, 04-06-2006 - 6:25pm

I just wanted to agree with what Carol said. My DS does not have hyperlexia, but I did. At least I think that's what they would call it today. I strongly suspect I have a not-too-severe case of Asperger's syndrome, even though I've learned to work around it. People who've met me in the last 10 years or so would think I was completely neurotypical. In any case, I am an extremely visual learner. I can do very well in school if I don't depend on *anything* verbal-everything has to be written down. The only thing that I would really add is that teachers tend to confuse hyperlexia with enormous intelligence, and get really exasperated when non-reading areas of school are harder for kids like them (us).


Lynda :-)

Lynda, Carl (12/1/99) and Erica (6/18/03)

Lynda, Carl (12/1/99) and Erica (6/18/03)