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Original poster

Hyperlexia/ASD/Success Stories

5 replies

hobnobs4life · 18/02/2025 18:56

Ask: experiences/helpful tips to support hyperlexic toddler:

We have a delightful 2.5 year old boy (just turned this age, so not close to 3). he has a speech delay which is improving, we have seen huge changes in the last 6 months, but particularly in the last month. At age two, he pointed to the number two and said it as one of his first ever words. We completely ignored that it was right and thought it was a coincidence, which it turns out it wasn't. In the last few months we realised that he is reading letters/numbers (at least up to 20). At the weekend I gave him some new sight word cards without pictures. He got them all, including hippopotomus and Kangaroo, without me saying a word. We just started getting him assessed for assistance with his speech delay, and I suspect will also be offered some help with transitions/interacting with other children etc. He is definitely displaying some autistic traits, his nursery have also flagged, though we know it too. He is extremely active, jumps constantly (I suspect he does this to self regulate), has issues with transitions etc. We are in a different country, but the government assessment will take at least 45 days and we are just starting. I am also having to push my husband heavily to accept any diagnosis/help, as he has autistic traits, and he thinks that help can be detrimental, he came out normal etc. That part is an uphill struggle which is ongoing. We love our little boy, but I want to help him now that we are seeing a speech and reading uptick. If anyone has any experiences that they could share, resources, books etc I'd love to know them so that we can help his development while waiting for the results/plan to come back. Also, if anyone has any stories of how their children grew up with this, what was helpful, what was not, I would find it so helpful. Thank you!

OP posts:
AnnaMagnani · 18/02/2025 19:06

My DM and DF only had the one child (me!) so had nothing to compare to although realised I was a bit odd when I taught myself to read, and was then interested in reading and nothing else. It was well before anyone was talking about hyperlexia, ASD, sensory issues etc. My DF was very obviously ASD, not sure about my DM but possible.

I think they did a really great job!

I had loads of books. We were regulars in the library and the bookshop. I am carrying or reading a book in all my childhood photos and she despaired of me ever playing.

I wasn't good at making friends but found girls who shared my other special interest - ponies - and that was great.

One thing I am very grateful for was that they encouraged me to be myself but also taught that there were times I just had to fit in or get on with it. This wasn't entirely successful but I did kind of get the message that I have to turn up on time/sit still sometimes/do things I'm not interested in all of which are common in adult life.

Puberty however was a complete shitshow. But you do come out the otherside eventually.

I'm in my 50s now and a doctor. There are loads of ASD doctors, diagnosed and undiagnosed. Throughout history ASD people have always found their niche - the book Neurotribes is brilliant for this.

Original poster
hobnobs4life · 18/02/2025 19:25

Thank you @AnnaMagnani , this is really appreciated. I think your point about just fitting in and getting on with it really resonates with the way my husband sees himself. He struggled a lot with friendships in school and it wasn't until he joined the army that he figured out how to fit in. I'll look up that book! It is great to hear that you had a fairly "normal" childhood and everything worked out.

OP posts:
AnnaMagnani · 18/02/2025 19:39

Thanks, my DH is unsurprisingly also ASD. Found his tribe at university and likes talking about philosophy and computer programming.

Big mistake of his parents - didn't emphasize he'd actually have to make a living.

He's lucked out with me (luckily we both have a special interest of being married to each other) but my parents were very short of money when I was young so I grew up with the idea that yes, I could do my special interests, but I also had to be employable and pay the rent.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

2 year olds Families SEN
BlwyddynNewydd · 18/02/2025 20:11

We did lots of talking about emotions. Naming our feelings, how other people might feel when we say/do things, how she feels and why that might be.

Anxiety has always been a bog issue, and the need to control her environment. And as she was talking early, and very bright, remembering that her emotional maturity wasn't in line with her vocabulary and ability to read/remember/understand complex info.

What's polite and what isn't, how others may interpret our behaviour etc. Especially when negotiating friendships.

I have a daughter - so friendships definitely more of an issue and navigating social situations.

Teenage years very difficult, lots of time off school and periods of not being at school. But she was happy to learn independently.

She's now at uni, and she achieved great GCSE/A level results. I wish I'd had her assessed and medicated for ADHD earlier. As this has helped with her self regulation.

artemru · 10/03/2025 00:16

hobnobs4life · 18/02/2025 18:56

Ask: experiences/helpful tips to support hyperlexic toddler:

We have a delightful 2.5 year old boy (just turned this age, so not close to 3). he has a speech delay which is improving, we have seen huge changes in the last 6 months, but particularly in the last month. At age two, he pointed to the number two and said it as one of his first ever words. We completely ignored that it was right and thought it was a coincidence, which it turns out it wasn't. In the last few months we realised that he is reading letters/numbers (at least up to 20). At the weekend I gave him some new sight word cards without pictures. He got them all, including hippopotomus and Kangaroo, without me saying a word. We just started getting him assessed for assistance with his speech delay, and I suspect will also be offered some help with transitions/interacting with other children etc. He is definitely displaying some autistic traits, his nursery have also flagged, though we know it too. He is extremely active, jumps constantly (I suspect he does this to self regulate), has issues with transitions etc. We are in a different country, but the government assessment will take at least 45 days and we are just starting. I am also having to push my husband heavily to accept any diagnosis/help, as he has autistic traits, and he thinks that help can be detrimental, he came out normal etc. That part is an uphill struggle which is ongoing. We love our little boy, but I want to help him now that we are seeing a speech and reading uptick. If anyone has any experiences that they could share, resources, books etc I'd love to know them so that we can help his development while waiting for the results/plan to come back. Also, if anyone has any stories of how their children grew up with this, what was helpful, what was not, I would find it so helpful. Thank you!

Hi

Maybe wait for assessment results before pushing your husband to accept something which is not officially there yet.

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