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Hyperlexia can be a symptom or a "splinter skill" occurring in individuals on the autism spectrum, or it can be a condition on its own. I found a great article on this (http://www.wisconsinmedicalsociety.org/savant_syndrome/savant_articles/hyperlexia) that basically states there are three different types of hyperlexia: hyperlexia in neurotypical children, hyperlexia in autistic children, and hyperlexia in neurotypical children with autistic-like symptoms.

In the first type, Type 1, hyperlexia occurs without any related social or behavioral symptoms. These are children who read and comprehend at an unnaturally early age, but grow up to follow the typical patterns of development. The skill tends to level off as the child ages, meaning that while the child starts off well beyond his or her age group when the hyperlexia first presents, the gap typically lessens as the child gets older. Children in this age group tend to be intelligent and gifted students, but are otherwise indistinguishable from their peers.

Type 2 is hyperlexia occurring as an aspect of an autism spectrum disorder. While not a reliable symptom for diagnosing autism or a related condition, hyperlexia can occur in autistic children. Here, the hyperlexia is just a part of the greater condition.

Type 3 occurs in children who are not autistic, but still present with "autistic-like" symptoms. These children have the precocious reading ability, but unlike the Type 1 children they have specific deficits alongside this skill. They may have delayed language. Acquisition of speech doesn't occur at the same rapid pace the child is acquiring reading skills; early speech is often repetitive and limited to scripted responses. While the child's language may be superficially perfect, the situation in which it was used may not be. The understanding of language may also be affected. These children may not understand as much as they can read or may have trouble with abstract concepts. Beyond language skills, other autistic-like symptoms may be present. They may show an intense need for routine or sameness, have sensory issues, or stim. They may often be socially active and affectionate among family members, but be extremely reserved outside the home. According to some experts, the Type 3 children grow out of these issues, typically within the first years of school, and go on to meet the expected developmental milestones.

According to others, hyperlexia is a life-long condition in which individuals have a continued fascination with language, social problems, and figurative language problems. Some say that if hyperlexia is present it is unconditionally indicative of autism, while others say that it is a similar but wholly unrelated condition. There is no clear consensus on the matter because hyperlexia is such a new and relatively unstudied condition.

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Q: What is the difference between hyperlexia and autism?
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