I am a research junkie. In particular, I love to read through academic and scientific journals about topics that are of high interest to me, namely hyperlexia.
Just the other week someone in my hyperlexia support group (now defunct sorry - join the free Hyperlexia Hub community instead) had a good chuckle about me reading an article about fMRI imaging and hyperlexia on a Saturday morning! See, totally nerdy!
So, if you are interested in learning about hyperlexia through scientific research and academic journals, then you're in the right spot. There are over 50 hyperlexia research articles and studies below to read through that all have open access or PDFs available to download. You know...in case you need a little light bedtime reading...
This post was last updated on March 18, 2025. New research papers were added, dead/broken links were removed, and the articles were arranged into new sections.
Hyperlexia Research
The academic articles and research below are included for informational purposes only. Inclusion of the links below are not necessarily reflective of my opinions. In fact, I haven't even read most of these yet! So, really, this list of articles is as much for me to read through as it is for you.
Please note that I've only included links to those articles that have open access or PDFs available. There are plenty of other research papers on hyperlexia that aren't included here, simply because they don't have open access or are hidden behind a paywall.
At the time of publishing this blog post, all links worked. The following links will redirect to you the full text version, PDF directly, and/or a place where you can download the PDF.
Research Articles from 2020-Current
- Enhanced Interest in Letters and Numbers in Autistic Children by Ostrolenk et al. (2024)
- The Effects of Story Mapping and Video Modeling on Reading Comprehension in Students with Hyperlexia by Keebler Dresner (2024)
- A Longitudinal Study on Language Acquisition in Monozygotic Twins Concordant for Autism and Hyperlexia by Ostrolenk et al. (2023)
- Hyperlexia in a Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Case Report by Filipova, Jovchevski, & Torte-Chiche (2023)
- Meta-Linguistic Awareness Skills in Chinese-Speaking Children with Hyperlexia: A Single-Case Study by Luo & Su (2023)
- Hyperlexia in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Review Study by Barby et al. (2023) - not in English
- Is it Hyperlexia? Toward a Deeper Understanding of Precocious Reading Skills in Two Cases of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder by Mammarella et al. (2022)
- Hyperlexia in 3-Year-Old Twins With and Without Autistic Spectrum Disorder by Mui Hoon Ng (2021)
- Measuring the Emergence of Specific Abilities in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Example of Early Hyperlexic Traits by Solazzo et al. (2021)
- Hyperlexia What Syndrome is This? Reflex and Reflections of Literacy Products by Oliveira & Rangni (2021) - not in English
- The Schooling Process of Children with ASD: Interface Between Behavioral Management and Hyperlexia by Soares da Cruz et al. (2021) - not in English
- Understanding Emergent Literacy and Improving Reading Comprehension of Preschool Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Hyperlexia by Macdonald (2020)
Research Articles from 2010-2019
- Profile of Hyperlexia: Reconciling Conflicts Through a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis by Zhang & Joshi (2019)
- Hyperlexia: Systematic Review, Neurocognitive Modelling, and Outcome by Ostrolenk et al. (2017)
- Remediating Comprehension Deficits in Hyperlexia: The Scaffolding Interrogative Method by Mui Hoon NG (2014)
- Effectiveness of Scaffolding Interrogatives Method: Teaching Reading Comprehension to Young Children with Hyperlexia in Singapore by Chia & Kee (2013)
- Reading Skills in Children Diagnosed with Hyperlexia: Case Reports by Lamonica et al. (2013)
- Hyperlexia, a Case Study: When the Co-occurrence of Developmental Disorders Favors Language Talent by Ferreira (2013)
- Reading Comprehension in Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Role of Oral Language and Social Functioning by Ricketts et al. (2013)
- Veridical Mapping in the Development of Exceptional Autistic Abilities by Mottron et al. (2013)
- Effectiveness of Instructional Strategies in Reading Comprehension for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Hyperlexia by Abnett (2013)
- What are the Mechanisms Behind Exceptional Word Reading Ability in Hyperlexia? Evidence from a 4-Year-Old Hyperlexic Boy's Invented Spellings by Cardoso-Martins et al. (2013)
- Establishing a Psycho-Educational Profile and Assessment of a Boy Suspected with Hyperlexia: A Single-Subject Case Study by Chua (2013)
- Reading Comprehension for Children with Hyperlexia - A Scaffolding Method by Mui Hoon NG & Kok Hwee Chia (2012)
- Hyperlexia and Dyslexia in Autism: Hitting a Moving Target by Williams & Casanova (2012)
- The Effectiveness of Semantic Aspect of Language on Reading Comprehension in a 4-Year-Old Child with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and Hyperlexia by Rabiee & Shahrivar (2012)
- Teaching Children with Autism to Read for Meaning: Challenges and Possibilities by Randi et al. (2010)
- Developmental Dissociations Between Lexical Reading and Comprehension: Evidence from Two Cases of Hyperlexia by Castles et al. (2010)
- Understanding the Complexities of Hyperlexia and its Subtypes by Leong (2010)
- Echo Induction Test for Hyperlexia and Ambient Echolalia in a Case with Cerebral Infarction by Suzuki (2010) - not in English
Research Articles from 2000-2009
- Hyperlexia in a 4-year-old boy with Autistic Spectrum Disorder by Atkin & Lorch (2006)
- Patterns of Reading Ability in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder by Nation et al. (2006)
- Hyperlexia in a Patient with Autistic Disorder and its Hypothesis by Baldacara et al. (2006) - not in English
- The Neural Basis of Hyperlexic Reading: An fMRI Case Study by Turkeltaub et al. (2004)
- A Longitudinal Case Study of a Hyperlexic Child by Hopper at el. (2004)
- Annotation: Hyperlexia: Disability or Superability? by Grigorenko et al. (2003)
- Comprehension in Children with Hyperlexia by Lester (2003)
- Hyperlexia Profiles by Kennedy (2003)
- Reading Words and Reading Minds: An Investigation of the Skills of Children Diagnosed with Hyperlexia by Rosen (2001)
Research Articles Prior to 2000
- Hyperlexia by Kupperman et al. (1998)
- Semantic Memory Impairment Does Not Impact on Phonological and Orthographic Processing in a Case of Developmental Hyperlexia by Glosser et al. (1997)
- Clues to the Cognitive Organization of Reading and Writing From Developmental Hyperlexia by Glosser et al. (1996)
- Linking Reading with Meaning: A Case Study of a Hyperlexic Reader by Worthy & Invernizzi (1995)
- Brief Report: Implications of Hyperlexia in an Autistic Savant by Patti & Lupinetti (1993)
- The Syndrome of Hyperlexia vs. High Functioning Autism and Asperger's Syndrome by Kupperman et al. (1992)
- Hyperlexia and Dyslexia: A Family Study by Healy & Aram (1986)
- Theoretical Implications of the Hyperlexia Syndrome: Two New Italian Cases by Cossu & Marshall (1986)
- Inquiry Into the Incidence of Hyperlexia in a Statewide Population of Children with Pervasive Developmental Disorder by Burd et al. (1985)
- Variability in IQ Scores and Prognosis of Children with Hyperlexia by Graziani et al. (1983)
- A Study of Hyperlexia by Healy et al. (1982)
- Hyperlexia as a Variant of Developmental Language Disorder by Richman & Kitchell (1981)
- Case Histories in Hyperlexia by Silberberg & Silberberg (1968)
- Obadiah, a Child with Numerical Obsession by Parker (1918) - likely one of the first documented cases of hypernumeracy
- A Pseudo-Talent for Words: The Teacher's Report to Dr. Witmer by Parker (1917) - likely one of the first documented cases of hyperlexia
Hopefully, you're able to find some time to dig through this hyperlexia research. It's really quite fascinating to read through and learn about.
