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Original poster

Is very early reading (hyperlexia) a sign of ASD?

66 replies

Lilytherabbit · 05/12/2022 12:59

Just that really. Or is it normal for some NT kids to just be very early readers.

My sister (undiagnosed ASD) who is almost 50 now and who struggled in school and life (she lives in a different country where diagnosis and support were completely unavailable) taught herself to read around the age of 3, but then struggled at school due to her lack of confidence and a crazy teacher who didn't understand what was wrong with her.

OP posts:
Fleurdaisy · 05/12/2022 13:09

No idea really but I don’t have ASD and I could read fairly fluently at 4. eg could read headlines and more of the morning paper.
I can remember being fascinated at school as the teacher very slowly explained phonetics and I realised I could spell out words phonetically and alphabetically. I then proceeded to spell out loud every word phonetically, as fast as I could. I’m sure I was a very annoying child.

Babdoc · 05/12/2022 13:09

Autistics tend to be very good at pattern recognition, so can master the alphabet very young. My autistic DD could identify all the letters in any order, both upper and lower case, at 18 months, and was reading at 2. She had a reading age of 12 in reception class, and was correcting her teacher’s spelling. I was reading fluently at 3, but not diagnosed as autistic until my 40s.

PauliString · 05/12/2022 13:12

I could read at 2. My favourite pre-school hobby was to sit in the hall cupboard reading about Lassa fever and similar toddler-friendly subjects in the pile of old Reader's Digests. I have never been diagnosed as autistic...

...but my children have, and they seem pretty similar.

ofwarren · 05/12/2022 13:12

It can be a sign yes. I taught myself to read at 2 years old and was diagnosed as an adult.
There will be none autistic hyperlexics though.

TeaAndStrumpets · 05/12/2022 13:15

Two children reading at 3, not autistic, but we are a bookish family.

ThirdColdSinceSeptember · 05/12/2022 13:16

I’ve wondered about this! DS was ‘reading’ small words before he was 3 and could recognise letter sounds. It was eerie, he read something off a wall while having his nappy changed at nursery and really freaked out the nursery cater who was doing it! He was fully fluent at just turned 4 when he started school. He’s 9 now and can recognise unlabelled countries (like on the Worldle game) and flags instantly. I don’t think he has ASD but having worked with children before I think he does have some some mild traits (also awaiting assessment for dyspraxia).

PinkPink1 · 05/12/2022 13:17

I could read at 3. I do not have ASD. I’ve just always loved reading.

emptythelitterbox · 05/12/2022 13:19

It can be, but not necessarily.
There can be a hyperfocus on letters and numbers. Patterns.

SlouchingTowardsBethlehemAgain · 05/12/2022 13:25

My DC could read at 2, not autistic though.

TeaAndStrumpets · 05/12/2022 13:25

Just to add, my grandson (whose mum was reading at 3) is diagnosed ASD and he could barely read or write for the first few years at school. Phonics was a disaster for him but he has managed to catch up. So every child is different.

FruitToast · 05/12/2022 13:26

DD was reading well at 3 and silently reading chapter books to herself before she started in reception. Just got her ASD diagnosis at 7. Isn't it somewhere around 80% of hyperlexic children are autistic?

BendingSpoons · 05/12/2022 13:30

I think you need to differentiate between hyperlexia and early reading. Hyperlexia (reading well, often without being taught, but with limited understanding) often is part of ASD. Early reading due to being taught and understanding what you are reading is different.

Lycanthropology · 05/12/2022 13:30

I could read very young... my older brother was learning in school, so I just sort of joined in with his homework! I'm not autistic.

My autistic DD, OTOH, was a later reader.

TeaAndStrumpets · 05/12/2022 13:31

Also I would love a definition of "undiagnosed ASD" Not being goady, just thinking of the hoop jumping and waiting lists parents have to endure to get a diagnosis. I think "suspected" would be a better word in this case?

milkandchocolat · 05/12/2022 13:32

It's a well known sign isn't it? The two asd children in my family were reading fluently by the time they started school. Obviously not all early readers are asd though.

Novemberhater · 05/12/2022 13:34

I could read fluently long before I started school. My DS taught himself to read at two and a half. Neither of us are on the spectrum.

FruitToast · 05/12/2022 13:36

Although I will add that a true hyperlexic also often can't comprehend what they are reading because it is too advanced or has communication difficulties in other areas. Their reading is often based on pattern recognition skills and an obsession with letters. In the US it is a diagnosis in itself as it qualifies for early intervention but in the UK it's not really a 'thing'. However, DDs precocious reading ability was added to the GPs list of reasons for wanting to refer for an ASD assessment. I don't think she would be truly hyperlexic though just a very early reader.

ReallyShouldBeDoingSomethingElse · 05/12/2022 13:36

DD learned to read at a basic level at 3 and at 4 was reading chapter books.

She's struggling at school with everything apart from the academic stuff and I'm on the look out for ASD.

Itisbetter · 05/12/2022 13:37

I don’t think so but there are lots of people who confuse high IQ with autism and a fair few who think they are the same thing (!!!!). If you are autistic and don’t enjoy interacting with people then why wouldn’t you be an early reader? If you have older siblings learning to read then why wouldn’t you pick it up?

Lemonademoney · 05/12/2022 13:39

BendingSpoons · 05/12/2022 13:30

I think you need to differentiate between hyperlexia and early reading. Hyperlexia (reading well, often without being taught, but with limited understanding) often is part of ASD. Early reading due to being taught and understanding what you are reading is different.

I was about to say this. I was an early reader and was reading chapter books by 4 but my mum was an early years teacher and made the most of me showing an interest so my understanding was there. I bet I wouldn’t have been such an early reader without all of that support

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 05/12/2022 13:46

I taught myself at 3. Until recently I would have said I was not autistic but I am increasingly wondering.
Without doubt the child I was who sat by herself every playtime would be at least sent for assessment now.

GoingtotheWinchester · 05/12/2022 13:49

I could read chapter books at 4, not autistic (or a genius just for the record!) DS1 could too. We are a family the adores reading though so this could be part of it?

Pallisers · 05/12/2022 13:55

I was an early reader - at 3, learned along with my older sister. I've always loved reading.

I've known one child with hyperlexia - in my son's nursery. He had whatever the equivalent in writing too. At age 2 he gave my son a story he had written carefully in a pattern of a spiral (my son was not able to read it of course). He was diagnosed with autism around the same time.

Pictograph · 05/12/2022 13:59

When DS1 started reception the deputy head told me that in 20 years of teaching she'd never seen a child who could read like him before starting school. He's bright but not autistic (and now he's 17yo he doesn't even like reading!).

Londonnight · 05/12/2022 14:00

My son was reading well at 3 and able to do basic adding and taking away number work. He is now in his 40's and doesn't have ASD

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