Early Reading Comprehension Intervention for Preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Hyperlexia.

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and hyperlexia (HPL) have both advanced word reading skills and a reading comprehension disorder, alongside impaired oral language. We developed a unique, parent-supported, tablet-based intervention aiming to improve oral and reading comprehension at the word-, phrase- and sentence-level, for preschoolers with ASD and hyperlexia (ASD + HPL). English-speaking preschoolers (N = 30) with ASD + HPL (N = 8), ASD without HPL (N = 7) and typical development (N = 15) underwent a 6-week no-intervention period followed by a 6-week intervention period.

Early Word Reading of Preschoolers with ASD, Both With and Without Hyperlexia, Compared to Typically Developing Preschoolers.

A portion of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) exhibit a strength in early word reading referred to as hyperlexia (HPL), yet it remains unclear what mechanisms underlie this strength. Typically developing children (TD) acquire phonological awareness, alphabet knowledge and language skills as precursors to word reading. We compared these skills across English-speaking preschoolers with ASD, both with and without hyperlexia, and TD preschoolers.