It's no secret that hyperlexic learners have a preference for written language and are drawn to anything with the written word. Additionally, they have strong visual processing skills, easily recognizing patterns, letters, and symbols.
On the other hand, auditory processing difficulties are quite common (more on that here). By relying solely on spoken language or verbal instructions, you'll be doing a major disservice to our hyperlexic learners.
So, that's why we want to lean into those strengths of decoding and visual processing by using visual supports with hyperlexic learners.
Below, we'll take a closer look at some different examples of visual supports that are great to use with hyperlexic learners. And also give you some inspiration for things to try. (Hint: you'll find lots of pre-made printables as examples!)
Examples of Visual Supports that are Great for Hyperlexic Learners
As you will see shortly, you can use visual supports with hyperlexic learners to help with schoolwork, boost comprehension skills, support communication, and so much more. I've broken down each category with some possible examples with links to lots of printable resources that you can use to support those areas. Hopefully it will give you some great ideas and tools for incorporating more visuals into your daily routine.
1. Visuals for Helping with School or Homework
School can be sensory overwhelming for many and homework can also be a struggle, especially related to areas such as expressive writing or comprehension. However, as you will see, there are lots of different visual support examples that you can use to help hyperlexic learners in the classroom or at home with their homework. You might want to consider trying:
- Mind maps - You can even quickly create these on a whiteboard or Boogie Board.
- Checklists - Here's an editable backpack checklist as an example.
- Written instructions to supplement verbal instructions
- Rubrics
- Examples of completed work - Can be especially helpful for open-ended art projects!
- Anchor charts
- Word walls
- Flashcards
- Posters with classroom rules or expectations - Here's an example of one for remembering to use complete sentences when writing.
- Visual schedules, timetables, or calendars
- List of signal words - Grab a free printable list of them here or try these math signal words.
2. Visuals for Boosting Comprehension Skills
Obviously, comprehension issues are a common challenge for hyperlexic learners so prioritizing this area is extremely important. Thankfully, there are lots of great visual supports and aids that we can use to support development in this area, including:
- Illustrated dictionary
- Closed captioning or subtitles - Learn more about the benefits of closed captioning for hyperlexic learners.
- Videos & photographs - Here are some helpful reading comprehension videos to try.
- Tables, graphs, charts, & diagrams
- Copy of the book for read alouds - That way they can follow along!
- List of signal words or text features - Grab a free printable list of them here or try these math signal words.
- Posters & anchor charts
- Flashcards
3. Visuals for Supporting Effective Communication
As you may or may not know, hyperlexic learners are gestalt language processors and learn language differently. They often find WH questions difficult, use a lot of echolalia to communicate, and have receptive and expressive language issues, just to name a few of these differences. So, to support communication and language development, consider trying the following ideas:
- Written scripts - Try these apologizing social scripts, for example.
- Communication boards or cards - For example, try these I need help cards or this bedtime communication board.
- Texting or messaging apps
- Choice boards
- Picture cards
- Whiteboards, chalkboards, notebooks, or sticky notes
- Social stories - Check out this asking for help social story, for example.
- Letter toys - It's actually how a lot of hyperlexic toddlers and preschoolers communicate when they're younger so please don't discourage or take away their letters. More on that here.
4. Visuals for Promoting Self-Regulation Strategies
Hyperlexic learners can also benefit from using visuals to support their sensory needs, emotional development, and regulation. Here are some visual tools to try:
- Written scripts - For example, here are some scripts for when you're frustrated or angry.
- Social stories - Here's one that helps with deep breathing, for instance.
- Choice boards
- Deep breathing posters - Here's one inspired by the hyperlexic child's love for the book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.
- Sensory diet/break cards
- Posters of coping strategies or mindfulness techniques - Try this ABC grounding technique poster, for instance.
- Movement cards (e.g., yoga poses, animal walks, etc.) - Here's a Google Slides deck with animal walks.
5. Visuals for Strengthening Executive Functioning Abilities
Hyperlexic learners may also need some support with their executive functioning, including planning and organization. So, if you're looking for ways to strengthen these executive functioning abilities, consider trying the following.
- Visual schedules or timetables
- Visual timers - Something like this, for example.
- Checklists - Here's an editable backpack checklist as an example.
- Calendars or planners
- First-then schedules
- Labels
- Maps
- Color coding
- Apps (e.g., reminders, notes, calendar, etc.)
- Written instructions
6. Visuals for Supporting Social Skills
Social skills is another area where hyperlexic learners can benefit from some extra support and guidance. You can use the following types of visual supports to build confidence in this area.
- Social stories - Here's one that helps kids learn how to play the game of hide and seek.
- Written scripts - Try these losing a game scripts.
- Books
- Videos (e.g., songs that teach social rules, video modeling, virtual tours, video social stories)
- Posters
- Checklists
- Communication boards & cards
- List of expectations, rules, or steps involved
- Cue cards - Grab these turn taking cue cards for example.
7. Visuals for Teaching Self-Advocacy Skills
Perhaps one of the most important skills you can teach a hyperlexic learner is how to advocate for themselves! Here are some examples and ideas of how you can incorporate different types of visual supports to build self-advocacy skills.
- Social stories - Be sure to check out this social story about self-advocacy.
- Written scripts - Try these self-advocacy scripts.
- Communication boards & cards - Something like these I need help cards, for example.
- Texting or messaging apps
- Sensory checklist - That way you know what your sensory triggers are!
- List of accommodations & calm down strategies
- Cue cards
Some Final Thoughts on the Different Types of Visual Supports
As you can see, visual supports are helpful for supporting a wide range of support needs, from teaching self-advocacy and social skills to supporting regulation and comprehension. You can use things like social stories and scripts, videos, posters, cue cards, graphic organizers, checklists, visual schedules, books, labels...the list goes on and on.
Each type will, of course, have their own advantages and disadvantages. However, it's important to remember that when it comes to supporting hyperlexic learners, we want to include the written word as much as possible. So visuals that incorporate the written word - as well as their interests! - will go a long way.
So feel free to try out some of the above examples of visual supports and see what works best for your hyperlexic learner.
