Hello,
My name is Amanda. I'm 28. I joined because I wanted to learn more information for myself, because I think I grew up with hyperlexia & asperger's (etcetera, explained further below) and had no idea. I have my BA in Journalism, History, and Russian. I am currently pursuing my MBA in Economic Crime & Fraud Management. I own my own business (just licensed this past week!) and otherwise I work in insurance.
I live with my parents. I can't afford to live on my own, and I'm not entirely sure I'd do well without a room-mate of some sort. The only time I did not live with my parents, outside of during my undergraduate years was during a 4-year relationship. My ex once
speculated that I was autistic of some sort, but never having had anyone (parents, teachers, medical people) tell me something like
this, thus, I was offended.
I know that for some traits I see in myself, from my research, doctors wouldn't have known enough, if anything, to be able to
diagnose me when I was little.
My parents always told me I could read remarkably early but had intense trouble learning to speak and in fact, made-up my own language (which my younger brother, who had no problems, then copied!). Friends (and maybe family too) often asked my parents where I got that "darling accent" since it certainly wasn't a regional one (either from the southern US where I was born, nor was it northern where my parents were from). I still have difficulty with certain sounds, so I hate having to read/speak in public. Singing is okay though. Because of my reading skills, I was in a gifted reading program as early as kindergarten, but I did not 'play well with others'. I'm not sure that I still do. My Mom says I've really grown-up (she thought I was always emotionally immature compared to age-mates) but to me it feels more like I'm wearing a mask. I theoretically know the right things to say (usually) but this doesn't mean it comes naturally which leaves me feeling very awkward.
I hated my childhood and effectively blocked out a lot of it because it was too painful. I didn't know anyone who was the way I was. I remember having sound issues (still do to some extent) and issues with tantrums/behavioural issues – though not in school because I didn't want to call any more attention to myself! I was so frustrated, especially as a child/teenager. Smells effect me very strongly as well.
I've been doing some research and from a chart that I saw, notice that Hyperlexia/Language Learning Disorder is grouped with autism and Hyperlexia/Visual-Spatial Disorder gets group with Asperger's Syndrome. However, in looking at this, I would honestly feel that I would fall into a mix of the two, having definite traits on both sides, with a high non-verbal IQ with a low verbal IQ. Is this unusual to see myself sort of in the center of both sides? (I'm looking at the diagram at http://www.hyperlexia.org/aha_winter9697.html under 'Coexisting diagnoses'). If anyone here has seen this, I could tell you which traits on both sides I see in myself. My Mom doesn't seem to think this could be true (though I easily could be misinterpreting
what she said).
I've always had trouble making and then keeping friends. I have two very good friends from high school (loved to learn, hated/loathed school). I had friends in college but I keep in touch more with the professors than my classmates. I've always been able to relate better to people older, often much older, than to my age-mates. I also have another exceptionally good friend - one of those instant things - that I met on a Harry Potter tour when a bunch of us from all over the states went to the UK in 2005. We unfortunately don't live in the same state but get to talk a lot and I feel she understands me better then the two women I've known since high school.
I've learned in my reading that learning English with hyperlexia can often be as difficult for someone to learn a truly foreign language
after the age of 12. After I read this I was amazed I had successfully earned a third of my undergraduate degree in Russian.
I don't know if knowing what everything was would have helped or not growing up. The schools I went to sort of combined learning disabled with behaviour adjustment kids which may have lead to an even greater loathing of school.
I never knew until today that there were people out there that I could maybe talk to about this.
Amanda
14 Apr 2007, 10:17 pm
