Autistic/hyperlexic four year old

[Haworthia]

This time last year I applied to defer my (May born) son’s Reception start. At the time he was three and a half, quite severely speech delayed, and delayed in most other areas too. Thankfully, it was agreed that he could start Reception in 2020 instead of 2019.

Fast forward to around March this year. He’d not long been put on the waiting list for an ADOS assessment (we are still waiting, although there’s no doubt in my mind that he is autistic) when he started to read words when we were out and about. Walking through the supermarket he’d point at signage saying “meat”, “fish” etc. At first I wasn’t sure he was really reading, but it soon because apparent that he was. Now, six months later (he’s just coming up to four and a half) he can read all manner of things, although sometimes it’s obvious he’s just guessing at the word. He seems to read the whole word too (goodness knows how he’ll get on with phonics), and will sometimes get his vowel sounds wrong, like reading out “post” to rhyme with “cost”. I’m not sure whether his comprehension is always good, because like a lot of autistic young children he can struggle with who/how/why type questions.

Number wise, he can recognise numbers up to and beyond three digits. None of this has been encouraged or hothoused at home, he’s completely self taught.

Now I have this gut churning feeling that he’s going to hate school and be bored. It’s not that I’m regretting the deferral, because he is still quite ill-equipped in so many ways: socially, emotionally, behaviourally, not long toilet trained, can’t dress himself etc. He still struggles with language both in terms of interpreting questions asked of him and making himself understood (even now, I struggle to understand what he says so teachers would struggle more). Academically though, he’s on another level, and obviously will be even more so come next September. In other words, spiky profile/twice exceptional (which are terms I have only just come across and describe him to a T).

He’s already bored at preschool and I’m losing sleep at night worrying how he’ll manage at school. If I had to choose again whether to send him to school this year or next year I would still choose to defer, but looking longer term and from a purely intellectual level, I just don’t want him to be bored and under stimulated.

Does anyone have experience of this, and of liaising with schools? Next year the school SENCO will start to attend his One Plan meetings, so I’ll need to discuss his hyperlexia as being one of his special needs. I’m also wondering whether to reduce his preschool hours, as much as it would pain me to lessen my own child-free luxury time

I think that social skills are such an important aspect of development, of their wellbeing as children and later on as teenagers and adults. DS was just like yours - had severe speech disorder (diagnosed at 3) and could barely speak when in Nursery and Reception, although he could read well and was showing exceptional abilities in maths, factual recall, spelling etc. He did struggle socially, didn't have close friends until he was in year 3, but he was never bored at school as most of his teachers were on the ball and were giving him more challenging work.

Now he is in year 8 and absolutely thriving, socially and academically, as well as in other areas (music especially but also art). He excels in maths and is very good in all subjects. More importantly, he has loads of friends, always organising get togethers, going to birthday parties, etc. I'd say, see his social development as being the main challenge, don't see school as just for academic stuff. It's really hard, but I'd put academic stuff as second to social skills at this age.

Also be careful how you address schools with him - he will pick up on your vibe. If you think/say/question if he is bored, he will pick up on it and expect school to be boring.

Don't worry about phonics, he'll pick it up quickly and help when decoding new words. DS could read whole words well before he started doing phonics but it does help when they need to read more complex words. It's not an obstacle, it's another 'tool'.

Thanks for replying. I know this sub doesn’t get much traffic, so I wasn’t sure whether I’d get any!

I’m not prioritising social skills over academic skills, far from it. I suppose my concern is that we have held him back a year, for completely valid reasons, but I’m doubting myself now his “giftedness” has come to light.

I don't think there's any point in regretting that decision, as there's nothing you can do about it. I just suggest you work with the school with regards to the work. In my experience, it took a little while for the school to recognise the 'talent' in maths, as they tend to ask whatever questions are in the curriculum and nothing beyond that for the first 1-2 years. DS started to stand out in year 2. And honestly, it's not that unusual that a 3-4 year old can read - I am not sure I would call it hyperlexia.

Im with Queen not sure it would be hyperlexia. Many summer borns do pick up reading by this point in reception and he is that age. But obviously he has managed it without instruction.
Dd could read cvc words at 3.5yo.
But stil struggled at school due to behaviour and friendships.
I think he sounds ahead on the maths.
I would probably try to dissuade away from whole word recognition. (At least while they cant do much phonics.)
My DS is also deferred but they cant read or do numbers at all, so would have struggled in yr r this year. Im intereted in where mine will be at 5yo as it may reinforce some arent ready at 4yo. And if we are still in the same place at least dc will have more concentration to try, more fine motor control, better take direction and hopefully more friends.

I wouldn't reduce his preschool, because it could be him being bored him not liking the social side / interaction / having to share. I also think speech delay can be misleading as there's still a lot going on underneath ( they just don't vocalise it as early as 'normal') Sounds like he is doing well.

Full time school is another matter. New environment and rules. How many hours is he doing now at preschool ? I'd be careful with declaring him a genius to school it will come to light once he is settled in school. The first term is all about getting bedded in then they will get a feel for what he needs.

Mine sounds very similar to yours. She is 4 and in reception. She seema bored with play based activities but they do stretch her and help socially because she does have trouble. School is about social skills as much as academics.

My DD1 has Aspergers and was born before the deferral option came in. Like your DS she was a very early reader but she bloody loved digraphs and trigraphs. To be honest if he’s into whole word reading his phonics screening might not reflect his reading ability but who cares?

The bigger problem frankly is a few years down the track when they run out of age-appropriate books.

In the mean time, school will teach stuff he needs for life outside academia like relating to people and dealing with social skills. If you’re worried he won’t be intellectually stretched try a musical instrument after school?

My two children with autism both had hyperlexia and both could read fluently before they started nursery. I didn't even know my son could read because he couldn't speak but he would use letters to make words, really obscure words as well. My son wasn't taught phonics because he was in school before they were the fashion so to speak. My daughter though learnt the phonics rules and memorised them and carried on using her way to read and spell (perfect spelling). School is about so much more than reading and spelling though and really you need to be thinking about how to ensure your child gets the support they need in school. Look at IPSEA and SOSSEN and read about EHCneeds assessments.

He doesn’t sound hyperlexic? The very definition of the word is “a precocious ability to read words without prior training in learning to read, typically before the age of 5.” I know posters on this sub like to play down descriptions of exceptional behaviour, but I’m not here to question whether he’s hyperlexic or not. He clearly is.

I'd be careful with declaring him a genius to school

Is that a dig? Of course I won’t. I’m not here to brag about my child because I don’t have much to brag about, frankly. I spend much more time worrying about his autism and how much he struggles with day to day life.

Having said that, I don’t think I need to shy away from telling school about how well he can read, because Biff Chip & Kipper won’t pique his interest and that’s what I’m struggling with at the moment - supporting him in the areas in which he’s delayed, but pitched at a level that isn’t too “babyish”.

I wouldn't reduce his preschool, because it could be him being bored him not liking the social side / interaction / having to share.

Yeah, that’s pretty spot on actually. He’s been getting into a lot of scraps lately over not sharing toys.

I don’t think he’s hyperlexic. Most 4.5 age children would be able to read words, taught or not and he isn’t reading sentences or fluently.

I could read fluently at 2. Completely self taught. I was bored in reception and read the Hobbit followed by LOTR in the corner by myself at 4 whilst the rest of the class read through the ladybird learn to read books (old)

Smallest is similar at 4.5 - they could read fluently by 3 and in reception is allowed to read their own books or choose from the higher years.

about the reading bit - it's also important that they learn to understand what they read and I know biff and kipper are so boring, and trust me about 90% of children think these books are nil point, but they are simple stories and as well as decoding the words, pupils have to understand the meaning of the story. They also have to learn to 'predict' what might happen next in the story.

Having said that, with both my kids we went through the pains of Biff and Kipper and very quickly moved on to much more interesting reading scheme called Project X - that was some time ago as they are now 12 and 14 years old. I'd really recommend that you'd speak to the school to see if they have some of their books or see if you an get them from the library. Far more interesting that Biff. www.pandorabooks.co.uk/collections/reading-schemes/project-x-origins

I know he can read, but is he understanding the content? Can he recount the stories etc?

The SENCO team at my sons school had never heard of hyperlexia and none of the teachers had either, be prepared to take along info for them.
Also, when my son was being diagnosed autistic and I mentioned hyperlexia the paediatrician practically scoffed and said we don't diagnose that in the UK.

@Needcoffeeimmediatley we had similar. I queried dyspraxia (DD is also dyspraxic) at 6 and was told by the consultant “with that reading ability? Certainly not”. I knew from the Dyspraxia Foundation’s website this didn’t necessarily follow but didn’t feel able to challenge his medical knowledge with my Google search. Should have though!

No not a dig at all, but children are often really different at home than at school / preschool. Home is their safe place and they are in charge.

If your DS is reading books to the staff & kids at preschool then that's impressive. Is he reading actual story books at home then? We have a couple of 'step into reading' ones, level one and two. My DS can't read, but he really enjoys these books as shortish, good stories.

I think hyperlexia isnt so recognised here because a definition of under 5 would make no sense when this is the reception expectations by 4.8yo (for an aug born assessed around may).
And since the teaching of phonics 3yo or less can read.
Some kids will have a good sight recognition. And this really does help with reading but ideally phonics can help them read so many words.

Once they can read reception wouldnt be so boring as they leave books about during free play time. However aside from the reading some kids do just want loads of information and unless the free play is good (ours wasnt) it can lead to behaviour issues - lots of tired kids all arguing over toys.

Unless he is genuinely reading books for older children I wouldn’t describe him as unusual, in that there are usually one or two in each class who can read in reception.

My ds was very similar. He hadn’t been bored at school apart from the odd occasion. I can heartily recommend the oasis chain of schools.

Also, when my son was being diagnosed autistic and I mentioned hyperlexia the paediatrician practically scoffed and said we don't diagnose that in the UK.

I don’t see it as a diagnosis tbh, and wouldn’t expect to receive it as a diagnosis. I see it more of a symptom that confirms that he’s autistic (like I said, he’s not been officially diagnosed yet).

and he isn’t reading sentences or fluently

Ah, but I didn’t say that though. I just didn’t feel the need to post “proof” that he’s hyperlexic because I expected people to take me on my word and not repeatedly tell me I’m wrong

If your DS is reading books to the staff & kids at preschool then that's impressive. Is he reading actual story books at home then? We have a couple of 'step into reading' ones, level one and two.

Yes, he reads books at home. Both the school style Oxford Reading Tree type books, and story books from the library. The first word he read to me (and I knew he wasn’t guessing with pictures because there was no picture) was “gold” at 3.10. Now at 4.6 I asked him to read the blurb on a Clover tub to his grandma “Simply made from buttermilk!” He was doing a maths activity book at preschool and was reading the instructions to his teacher He reads the captions as he plays Super Mario. He read the word “mysterious” the other week.

I think hyperlexia isnt so recognised here because a definition of under 5 would make no sense when this is the reception expectations by 4.8yo (for an aug born assessed around may).

The key word is precocious. A child isn’t hyperlexic if they can read before the age of five. Ditto a child isn’t hyperlexic if they can read CVC words when they start Reception. My older child did that, and I knew she was simply at the top end of the scale for a Reception child.

And since the teaching of phonics 3yo or less can read.

Children aged three or under are now commonly able to read thanks to the teaching of phonics? Sorry, I don’t buy that. I don’t think preschoolers experience much more than a vague introduction to letter sounds at preschool, and certainly don’t think children that young can translate that into actual reading skills.

I don’t know why you’re being so combative Awkward1. I was worried that posting in G&T would bring out the usual snarky replies and “that sounds kind of average OP”, so I’m disappointed to be proved right.

Does he have a ehcp or are you or the nursery applying for one- when mine had the assessment they tested reading via an Ed psych as part of it. They also recommendations which might help

I’ve already been told that we should apply for one but he’ll never get one in a million years @teabagleftin No surprises there!

Simply because he isn’t delayed enough. I spoke to someone from the council’s Education dept who said the bar is SO high these days, even a four year old functioning at around 8 months in some areas was refused an EHCP. I think we will apply but expect nothing to come of it.

Incidentally, when you say you went for an assessment and saw an Ed Psych, what assessment was that?

The eldest saw one as part of the statement assessment. They are old though so it was a while ago. Smallest saw one through the paed as part of their asd assessment. They wouldn’t do an ADOS until they’d been seen in their school setting and they were seen by ep and social and communications therapist- like a speech therapist but for interaction and behaviour.

I think the process is different now. He was put on the waiting list for the ADOS assessment by a community paediatrician. I’ve never heard of a social and communications therapist but they sound fantastic and I wonder if they still exist! I have NO idea how to access an Ed psych either... aside from paying, obviously. The system is shit. Down to bare bones and so underfunded. I find it so hard to access support because it doesn’t seem to exist. Even the area SENCO, employed by the local authority who supports preschools in the area... gone. The preschools are totally on their own doing One Plan meetings, etc.

The social and communication specialist is recent so they exist here- they work alongside speech therapists ours come under the council, might be worth giving them a call or via the paed (if you’re under one?)

Ah sorry just seen your under the community paed- maybe ring their secretary?