Using your child’s ability to read (Hyperlexia) to develop attention, understanding and speech

Learning Through a Child’s Interests

Deepa Bhatt Nair shares her experience of observing a child at a therapy centre whose learning style was deeply rooted in visual engagement. While the child did not use spoken language and found it difficult to remain seated for long periods, he demonstrated a remarkable connection with numbers and letters.

He could read numbers from a clock on the wall and communicate them meaningfully to his mother. This observation highlights an important truth: communication does not only happen through speech. Children may express understanding, curiosity, and connection in ways that are often overlooked.

Recognising Strengths, Not Limitations

Deepa further shared that the child had a strong interest in science and enjoyed watching the scrolling ticker on television news channels. This interest in moving text and visuals pointed clearly to a strong visual processing channel.

Rather than focusing on what the child could not do, this observation centres what he could do:

• He noticed patterns
• He recognised symbols
• He found joy and meaning in visuals

These strengths can become the foundation for building communication, attention, and understanding.

Using Visual Strengths to Support Communication

Children who process information visually often benefit from learning approaches that incorporate symbols, written words, and images. When learning is aligned with a child’s natural interests, engagement increases and stress reduces.

Below are some practical, neuroaffirming ways to build communication using visual strengths.

Supporting Sitting and Engagement Through Interests

• Instead of expecting a child to sit still without purpose:
• Use numbers and alphabets the child enjoys
• Mix them up and invite the child to pick or sort them
• Keep activities short and flexible

The goal is not prolonged sitting, but shared engagement in a way that feels meaningful to the child.

Building Higher Levels of Attention

To gently build sustained attention and cognitive flexibility:

• Write names of family members on separate cards
• Write names of fruits on different cards
• Mix all the cards together
• Ask the child to separate family names and fruit names

This activity supports:

• Visual discrimination
• Categorisation
• Focus without pressure

Expanding Vocabulary Through Everyday Objects

Vocabulary development can be supported naturally at home:

• Label common household objects (chair, door, cup, table)
• Create a photo album with pictures of these objects
• Write labels below each photograph
• Ask the child to match the photo label to the real object in the house

This approach builds understanding without requiring verbal output.

Encouraging Expressive Communication at Higher Levels

For children ready to explore more complex expression:

• Create simple comic-strip conversations
• Use stick figures with speech bubbles
• Write short, meaningful phrases in the bubbles

This supports:

• Understanding social exchanges
• Expression through visuals
• Storytelling without pressure to speak

When we respect how a child’s brain processes information, we open up pathways for communication that are joyful, effective, and empowering.

This video and guidance were created by Communiverse, led by Deepa Bhat Nair, an organisation dedicated to providing innovative, family-focused solutions for neurodivergent children and their caregivers. Communiverse offers both online and in-person support, providing highly nuanced interventions for very young children — with remarkable outcomes. The team is also pioneering path-breaking programs for middle schoolers and young adults with social cognition challenges, helping them navigate school, college, and daily interactions with greater confidence.

If you have questions about Autism, Down Syndrome, ADHD, or other intellectual disabilities, or have concerns about developmental delays in a child, the Nayi Disha team is here to help. For any questions or queries, please contact our FREE Helpline at 844-844-8996. You can call or what’s app us. Our counselors speak different languages including English, Hindi, Malayalam, Gujarati, Marathi, Telugu, and Bengali.