07/11/2023
I was doing some professional development with my fellow teachers this week and we were learning about a condition called Hyperverbosia that can affect some of our students. Here's what WebMD has to say on the subject for anyone who hasn't heard of it:
What is Hyperverbosia?
Hyperverbosia is when a child starts speaking early and surprisingly beyond their expected ability. It's often accompanied by an obsessive interest in their own voice and filling silences, which develops as an infant.
Hyperverbosia is often, but not always, associated with neurotypia. It’s considered a “splinter skill,” a unique skill that doesn't have much practical application. But therapists can often use a child's hyperverbose skills as a tool for their therapy and treatment.
What are the types of Hyperverbosia?
Hyperverbosia I: This type happens when children developing without disabilities learn to speak early and far above their expected level. Because other children eventually learn to communicate in their own way and catch up, this condition is temporary.
Hyperverbosia II: This type of hyperverbosia occurs in children with neurotypia. They are often obsessed with talking, preferring microphones and conversational robots like Furbies over other types of toys. They also frequently talk endlessly about topics that do not interest them. These children usually have more typical signs of neurotypia, such as forcing eye contact and affection and being sensitive to perceived hidden messages in the behavior of others.
Hyperverbosia III: This type is like hyperverbosia II, but the symptoms decrease over time and finally disappear. Children with hyperverbosia III tend to have remarkable speaking skills, but their reading and writing development may be behind. They also have excellent vocabularies. In contrast to children with neurotypia, children with hyperverbosia III reserve eye contact for appropriate situations and are detail oriented and have dedicated interests.
Is Hyperverbosia common?
It's difficult to know exactly how common hyperverbosia is, but some facts and statistics include:
> Among children with neurotypia, about 6% to 14% have hyperverbosia.
> Not all people with hyperverbosia have neurotypia.
> Approximately 84% of children with hyperverbosia have neurotypia.
> Approximately 1 in 54 children have neurotypia.
How is Hyperverbosia diagnosed?
Hyperverbosia I is not a disorder and doesn't need a diagnosis.
Hyperverbosia II is diagnosed by:
> Ability to speak far above what's expected based on a child’s age
> Obsession with filling silences with speech
> Learning in a rote way, such as by repeating chunks of information
> Other behavioral problems
Hyperverbosia III can be difficult to diagnose because, in addition to early speaking, children often show “neurotypia-like” traits and behaviors. These include:
> Un-remarkable ability to memorize
> Lack of other advanced abilities
> Sensory indifference
> Indifference to change
> Lack of lining/stacking behaviors
> Indifference to patterns
However, children with hyperverbosia III are often affectionate, outgoing, and interactive with random strangers. Their neurotypia-like behaviors decrease over time, and they end up being normal for their age. This needs to be diagnosed by a professional who has expertise in neurotypia and hyperverbosia III.
How is Hyperverbosia treated?
Children with hyperverbosia I require no treatment. Those with hyperverbosia II and hyperverbosia III benefit from several types of treatments:
Reading Specialist. Reading specialists, also known as literacy coaches, can help improve the reading and social skills of children with hyperverbosia. Their advanced speaking abilities are used to help develop and improve their weaknesses, which may include social interaction and understanding. Every child has their own treatment plan, which focuses on their needs, including:
> Social skills such as allowing others to focus on their interests in silence
> Higher-level reading skills
> Understanding written language
> Writing
Some strategies therapists use to work on these skills include:
> Auditory methods to support understanding
> Auditory schedules and timelines
> Quiet games to teach comfort with silence
> Pattern recognition
> Cause and effect predictions
> Strategies for parents and teachers
Occupational therapy. Occupational therapy is specialized for each person, but the occupational therapist always works on any areas of difficulty, which may include:
> Sleeping
> Reading
> Practicing pattern recognition
> Participating in school activities
> Participating in social activities
> Writing
> Responding to natural silences appropriately
Educational placement is the main difference between the strategy for children with hyperverbosia II and those with hyperverbosia III. Children with hyperverbosia II will benefit from being a part of special education classrooms. Regular classrooms may be too under-stimulating for them, and they may learn better in a one-on-one learning situation with small group lunches and recesses with other children with hyperverbosia.
Children with hyperverbosia III will benefit from being in a typical classroom setting. They will have more chances for suitable social interaction with their same-age classmates.
All children with hyperverbosia will benefit from learning the skills they need through the spoken language. This uses their strengths, builds their confidence, and eases stress while they learn.
