Hyperlexia Resources for Parents


What is hyperlexia? Find out here with this huge collection of hyperlexia resources for parents and educators, including hyperlexia teaching strategies and hyperlexia intervention strategies.

When I first learned of hyperlexia in November 2014, I did what anyone would do. I googled it.

Well, what a disappointing experience that was! There was barely any information about hyperlexia to be found. It was so disheartening to see the lack of resources for parents with this particular "diagnosis."

I was so excited to finally have a word that properly described my son. Yet, I felt just as lost as I had before because there was nothing out there to help guide me on how to best support my child. And the psychologist who identified my son didn't give me much to go on either...

Ever since writing the post This is Hyperlexia, I've made it my mission to help fill this hyperlexia information gap. So, over the course of years, I've been writing, creating, and curating resources for parents like myself who might be new to hyperlexia, as well as the teachers and professionals who support our hyperlexic learners in other environments.

It is my hope that this list of hyperlexia resources can be a helpful guide for parents of hyperlexic children (and teachers, SLPs, OTs, etc. too!).

You'll find information about what hyperlexia is (and isn't), common traits, support strategies, research, tips, and so much more.

Wondering if your child is hyperlexic? Check out these amazing hyperlexia resources for parents and educators, including hyperlexia teaching strategies and hyperlexia intervention strategies

This post contains affiliate links. Basically, I make a small commission when you use these links, at no additional cost to you.

New to Hyperlexia? Start Here!

Did you just learn about hyperlexia and/or are curious about what hyperlexia is? Well, then these are the must reads when it comes to learning about the basics about hyperlexia, especially as it pertains to hyperlexic children. For resources on hyperlexia in adulthood, you can find those further down on this resource page.

Here are some additional resources that might be useful to you if you are new to hyperlexia. They are the resources that I frequently reference and were extremely helpful to me when I was first learning about hyperlexia.

  • What is Hyperlexia? from the Canadian Hyperlexia Association (now defunct, but graciously hosted by Judy & David)

"Diagnosing" & Identifying Hyperlexia

This section is all about understanding the "diagnosis" of hyperlexia and what you should know about getting a child identified as hyperlexic. So, if you already suspect or think that your child is hyperlexic (take the free quiz to confirm!), then these resources will help you navigate the next step of the process.

You'll find resources on co-occurring conditions (mainly autism and hypernumeracy), the differences between hyperlexia and other precocious readers and autism, how to find a professional to help, challenges that you might face during the diagnostic process, and much more.

The Intense Interests of Hyperlexic Learners

If you have a hyperlexic toddler or preschooler, then you're likely already familiar with the intense fasincations and interests that these kids can have. This section will dive more into this particular topic.

Below, you'll discover why it's important to encourage these interests, why you shouldn't take away their letters, and what other interests might appeal to these kids (hint: the periodic table, geography, and the Russian alphabet are all interests that your child might move to).

Understanding the Hyperlexic Learning Style & Other Hyperlexic Traits

This section is all about taking a closer look at the hyperlexic learning style and different hyperlexic traits, such as air writing. You'll learn more about their strengths, their spiky learning profile, gestalt thinking, and some of the challenges they may face as they grow older.

Hyperlexia Related Language Development Resources

This section is dedicated to understanding the hyperlexic learner's language development and providing resources to support communication and comprehension. That means you'll find resources on echolalia and gestalt language processing, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), WH questions, pronoun reversals, social scripts, and more.

Education & School Support Resources for Hyperlexic Students

I get a lot of questions about hyperlexia and school so, of course, I have a section dedicated to this particular topic.

Below you will find articles about starting school (including introducing hyperlexia and gestalt language processing to the teacher), Individualized Education Plans/Programs (IEPs), advocacy, accommodations and supports, and more.

Resources for Hyperlexic Adults

While there are lots of resources for hyperlexia in childhood, there's less so for adults, but here are some resources that might be helpful for you as you explore your hyperlexic identity. They cover topics such as hyperlexic traits, gestalt language processing, and autistic traits.

Resources & Strategies for Supporting Hyperlexic Learners

These resources will help you understand how to best help and support the hyperlexic learner whether that's at home, at school, or any other environment. You'll find resources on topics such as comprehension, auditory processing, WH questions, hyperlexia teaching strategies, gestalt language processing, strengths and interests, and so much more.

Don't forget that you can also browse the resources section by specific topic, skill, or area that you are looking to support, that's potty training, emotions, comprehension, social skills, or something else entirely.

Community Support for Hyperlexia Families

It can be so helpful to connect with others who are raising and parenting hyperlexic children, especially since hyperlexia is still so unknown by many. And, trust me, it's nice to connect with others who just get it.

If you feel like you could use some support when it comes to understanding hyperlexia and/or knowing how to best support your hyperlexic learner, then you'll find the following support services and communities helpful.

You can also find some Facebook groups dedicated to hyperlexia. Please note that I do not necessarily endorse the content found within the following support groups or the viewpoints of the admins or members of the support groups (with the exception of my archived support group because it was monitored closely).

  • Hyperlexia + Autism Support Group - This group is now archived, but it was run by yours truly. If you're already a member, then you should be able to read all the posts and comments. Unfortunately, no new memberships will be approved at this time.

There are also groups dedicated solely to hyperlexia type 3 on Facebook. However, these groups tend to be quite negative and toxic, filled with misinformation and ableist narratives. As such, I no longer include direct links to these groups here.

Podcast Episodes About Hyperlexia

Want to learn about hyperlexia while on the go? Check out these podcast interviews that I've done about hyperlexia.

Or, if you'd prefer, a couple of the above interviews are available in video format as well.

Further Reading & Research on Hyperlexia

If you're ready to move beyond just a basic understanding of hyperlexia and dig into some research, then these are the resources for you! You'll find book suggestions (not that there are many!), as well as research papers.

Misc. Hyperlexia Resources

This section is just a few other random old posts about hyperlexia that didn't fit nicely into any of the categories above (for a variety of reasons).

Please note that there are tons of other hyperlexia related resources throughout my blog that aren't listed on this page.

You'll even find notes of hyperlexia weaved throughout lots of old blog posts (before I knew hyperlexia had a name!), even if the main blog post itself isn't specifically about hyperlexia or if I don't mention hyperlexia. For instance, you'll find craft projects that turn into my son writing letters or numbers on it.

So be sure to explore all that my blog has to offer, beyond these hyperlexia resources.

 

Wondering if your child is hyperlexic? Check out these amazing hyperlexia resources for parents and educators, including hyperlexia teaching strategies and hyperlexia intervention strategies

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