Hyperlexia, a Case Study: When the Co-occurrence of Developmental Disorders Favors Language Talent

Abstract

This study investigates a specific cognitive and behavioral phenotype associated to language talent in Asperger’s syndrome. Recent studies have regarded AS individuals’ uneven profile of competence and performance as a cognitive style rather than a cognitive deficit. The study of AN’s cognitive and language profile was carried out in order to investigate specific traits of his development, which could explain his language talent. The SCQ for talent in ASD and the CCC-2 were used as tools to screen AN’s profile. Our research results are in line with earlier studies on language talent in AS. Talent in AS is associated with a cognitive style for processing information in a local bias. In addition, results from the test of the participant’s communicative abilities suggested that his communicative skills are marked by patterns of weaknesses and strengths. Moreover, AN’s language difficulties are related to the comorbidity of AS with other developmental conditions, namely SLI and PLI.