Unsure, but it seems to be very common in hyperlexic people. Even if it is not a defining feature, it is likely one with a high correlation.

May I add my voice to this discussion? I cannot think of a situation that "too much reading" would lead to a disability! In fact, learning to read quickly and early has been a way to keep gifted learners learning when they must wait for less 'hyperlexic' classmates. For a non-pejorative label, try gifted readers instead of hyperlexia? Consider reading Susan Stutler's study of young girls and their reading activities (http://gcq.sagepub.com/content/55/1/18.short Stutler, S. 2011. Gifted Girls’ Passion for Fiction: The Quest for Meaning, Growth, and Self-Actualization. Gifted Child Quarterly, vol 55 no 10. doi: 10.1177/0016986210383979

Keep us posted on your progress!

Cordially, Ann Nevin.

I think that is relevant- we do need to think about how we speak about autism, and hyperlexia as a pathological term may be an example of how many things related to autism which do not need to and should not be pathologized are.

That is an excellent point Alyssa.

I would like to add that hyperlexia in autism can mask a comprehension problem. Be sure that the child who appears to read fluently is truly comprehending what (s)he is reading.

Patricia, another thing to think about is what is driving the obsession with reading. Is it a thirst for knowledge? Or, if we are talking about someone on the autism spectrum, is it more of a special interest/repetitive behavior?

Hyperlexia in autism has been shown to be an early obsession with the process of reading wherein the children engage in it so much (practice) that they are initially ahead of their peers in decoding and sight word reading (Grigorenko, Klin & Volkmar, 2003). However, it has been shown that by about 10 years old, this early advantage does not hold and their typically developing classmates catch up (see other publications by the Yale group cited above).