Does anyone have an ASD child who is obsessed with books?

Yvonne - posted on 09/18/2010

My son, (now almost 17) has Aspergers, when he was that age he was obsessed with flash cards, he didn't care what type as long as they were flash cards. :-)

Melissa - posted on 09/18/2010

My kids are the same way. My son (who is the most autistic of my children) was teaching himself phonics well before he was walking. I tried to discourage him from learning to read (who wants to be *that* parent?) but it was really to no avail. He was writing his name a few months after turning 2 and started reading a little before he turned 3. We thought it was splinter skills or hyperlexia, but he comprehends what he's reading. He's a little older now, 4, but every night when he's been in bed reading for several hours, I go upstairs and pry him away from his pile of books. My middle child (who also has ASD) is also a voracious reader. She reads somewhere around 10-12 200+ pg books per week (she's 7). But really, my oldest, who is NT likes to read just as much as the other two. So I don't consider it an autistic trait. I just consider it habits of a family who values literacy. At this point, I don't try to dissuade them from reading unless it's hindering another part of their day. If your daughter won't put down the book to go outside and play or to do other things, I'd consider it a problem. If not, I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Jeanine - posted on 09/16/2010

Wonder if daughter wiukd like to learn to make a book? Maybe this would get her doing some dexterity improvement?

Judi - posted on 09/13/2010

You can also act out the books that she is reading - use a white board to draw the charactors and get her to finish them - Green eggs and ham would be good for this, because I think drawing green eggs would be easy. Also check out the web for activities related to the books and stories, Find some songs closely related. Dressups, playdough, puzzles. Use the interest. Hide the books under the other games so they are a reward. I asked my sons speech therapist this exact same question.

Sheila - posted on 09/12/2010

HI Donita,

My son sounds very much like your daughter...but not at the same age. He is six, but he figured out the reading on his own and he loves to read. When I read to him, I can't read the last page! If I read a book to him that he has read, and I substitute a word like big for huge, he will tell me I've said the wrong word.

Anyways, I judge everything by impact. Reading, by itself, is incredibly wonderful! However, if the reading is restricting her world to such an extent that she is "cutting herself off" then you need to address it. Children on the spectrum can become engrossed in activities that can sometimes lead to isolation (computer, lego, reading)....but they still share their interest with you or others OR they allow themselves to be redirected.

So, right now my son is on a run of asking me for histories of (fill in the blank). His current theme is super villains from comics or Disney. I could talk about this ALL DAY with him. So, at the park, he kept asking...I redirected with three slides down, and a history...four climbs up the ladders, then a history. At home, I give a warning...one more history, and then mommy's brain gets a rest. He is six, and we've been working on these types of redirects for a while.

So, I would suggest that you get a piece of bristol board. Usig double sided velcro, create five (or 10...you pick the number) and post them on the bristol board. When she wants a book read to her, she takes one book off the bristol board. When all books are gone, she is either redirected to another preset activity OR it's time for a reading break and she goes to her own activity....but again, limit the amount. The big thing is you don't want her world to shrink into what's between those covers.

So, she takes all the books off her bristol board, be prepared to get her moving because she will probably feel physically anxious. Go for a walk, have a little trampoline, ride a bike....

She will not go from this number of books quietly...they are her comfort and her world. In books, everything makes sense. For a child with ASD, having the world make sense does not come easy.

I should ask, if you say no to reading a book, or try to redirect, how does she respond? This should also help guide you in your decision making. If she is easily redirected, it might not be that hard to broaden her interest if you direct her to the activity...specific direction and then stay with her for a bit to make sure she is following it through.

Good luck to you,

Sheila