Our son Ezra is 4 1/2 years of age. At 18 months old, he was very busy naming all the letters and numbers that he could see and touch. We noticed that although Ezra was "smart" enough to know his letters and numbers, he was not speaking and communicating at the same level as his peers. We also noticed that his eye contact and level of comprehension seemed to be very low.

We became alarmed and decided to have him tested at a child developmental clinic. We came away from the appointment with a diagnosis of P.D.D. (Pervasive Developmental Disorder). We of course were in complete shock and bewilderment. Where do we go from here? Who do we contact to help us? There were very few guidelines and few people that could help us.

We knew that his strengths were in his ability to recognize his numbers and letters. Against the advice of the doctors at the hospital we tried to capitalize on these very strengths. We labeled things and tried to spell out everything that meant anything to Ezra.

We tried to do as much research as possible on communication disorders to try to decide the best route of schooling for Ezra. By chance, in the local newspaper there was an article on a new educational programme for P.D.D. children in my area. I contacted one of the mothers there and told her a little about Ezra. She told me that a lot of children that are diagnosed with P.D.D. and who read very early are actually Hyperlexic. She game me the American Hyperlexia Association's phone number and I contacted them. They promptly sent me information, and in that information, I found my son, Ezra!

Thankfully, there was the Canadian Hyperlexia Association's phone number in that package. I was put in touch with Janyce Lastman and then Robin Leszner. I was blessed to have met these women and all the people involved with the C.H.A. Through them I have found the proper route for my son.

Ezra has successfully completed nursery school and has just finished a whole summer at camp. His eye contact, communication skills. and vocabulary have increased ten-fold. He receives speech therapy, play therapy, and extra help at school. All of these things have helped Ezra's world open up.

We have had our tough times with Ezra, but every month that goes by gets easier and easier. He is bright, sweet, loving and gentle. We are truly blessed with a son who is an absolute joy!

Aviva Spiro lives in the Toronto area with her sons, Aaron and Ezra, and her husband Mervin.