When Babies Read: A Practical Guide to Helping Young Children with Hyperlexia, Asperger Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism

by Audra Jensen, Peter Steen Jensen (Foreword by)

Overview

Audra Jensen' son began reading when he was only two years old. She shares her experiences - both the challenges and joys - of raising a child with autism and hyperlexia - an early and obsessive interest in the written word associated with social deficits and significant difficulty in understanding verbal language.

The author stresses the importance of diagnosis of the condition for successful implementation of effective teaching strategies and encouragement of more typical childhood development. As well as useful advice, this guide provides a comprehensive reading curriculum specially designed for young, challenged children to help promote their reading ability.

With practical suggestions on how to modify teaching and therapy programmes to suit a child's individual learning style, this practical guide will prove invaluable for parents of children with autism and hyperlexia.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781843108030
Publisher:	Kingsley, Jessica Publishers
Publication date:	08/08/2005
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	5.91(w) x 8.98(h) x 0.47(d)

About the Author

Audra Jensen is mother to a son with autism and hyperlexia, and to a typical, bright, and energetic daughter. She lives near Seattle with her husband and family. Audra K. Jensen's background is in technical writing and graphic design. She is now undertaking a Master's degree in Early Childhood Special Education and plans to become a hyperlexia researcher and an autism specialist for the schools. She has been actively involved in the autism community and hopes to continue to educate parents and professionals on hyperlexia and its challenges and blessings.

Table of Contents

Foreword. Preface. Acknowledgements. 1. Something About Him. 2. The Walking Paradox. Definitions. Why Does Hyperlexia Fit? Diagram of Hyperlexia. To Diagnose or Not to Diagnose? That is the question. 3. The Case for Teaching Reading. Create a Hyperlexic? Early Brain Development. Making the Case. Teaching Guidelines. What Method? 4. Teaching Babies to Read. Preparation. Level One: Match Word. Level Two: Pointing. Level Three: Match Object. Level Four: Reading. Level Five: Generalization. The Genelect Program. Set One: Familiar names and high-frequency words. Set Two: Facilitating Words. Set Three: First letters. Set Four: First Phonic Words ă (CVC). Set Five: Common high-frequency words. Set Six: Individual interest words. Set Seven: More phonics words ĕ, ĭ, ŏ, ŭ (CVC). Set Eight: Phonics vowel change (CVC). Set Nine: More high-frequency words. Set Ten: Phonics long vowel (CVC-e). Set Eleven: Phonics blends. Set Twelve: More long vowels. Phonemic Conventions. Sight and High-frequency Words. 5. Line of Attack. Home. Outside Therapies. School. Other Environments. Strategies. 6. Learning Early Social Expectations. Reminder Book. Situation Book. Incentive Chart.. 7. Navigating the School System Placement. When You Have to Fight. Process Guidelines. 8. Customizing Behavior Therapy. Pro-Active Responses. Foundation Skills. Social Skills. Academic Skills. 9. Customizing Language Therapy. Receptive Language. Expressive Language. Wh- Questions. Intraverbals. Grammar. Social Language. 10. Theory of Mind. Picture Inferencing. What Comes Next? Guess/Don't Guess. Verbal Inferencing. Thought Bubbles. Role Playing with Figures. 11. Ten Commandments. Appendix A: Special Education La in the United States. Special Education Law Terms. The Special Education Process. Legal Documentation. Appendix B: Some Useful Organizations in the UK. Appendix C: Glossary and Diagnostic Criteria. Glossary. DSM-IV (1994) Diagnostic Criteria. Other Disorders. References. Index.

Editorial Reviews

The book is extremely well written, easy to read and understand and is a moving and insightful account of the difficulties families can face when blessed with a challenging child. A great read (I personally couldn't put it down) for all those interested in either comprehensive learning programmes or just requiring a deeper understanding of Hyperlexia, Asperger Syndrome and Autism.

The National Association for Gifted Children

This book is interesting in that it focuses primarily upon hyperlexia- the ability to read at a level beyond age- related norms with associated deficits in verbal communication skills. Many parents and practitioners familiar with autistic spectrum disorder will recognize aspects of this presentation without necessarily knowing this specific label and a discussion of this area is welcome. This is an energetic and practical guide outlining principles and activities that have evidently contributed enormously to the quality of life experienced by the author's son and family.

Educational Review