NLD Kid 3rd in Spelling Contest

From the news story:

The 12-year-old did it by guessing how to spell "thrasonical," which means bragging or boastful.

Neither he nor his mom and coach, Susie Hites, had seen the word before.

...

By the time he was in second grade, doctors had discovered a cyst taking up 25 percent of his brain, which led to a diagnosis of Dandy Walker Variant. The area of his brain that allows the right and left sides to communicate looks like Swiss cheese, as well, Susie Hites said.

That condition caused what's called Nonverbal Learning Disability, which is on the autism spectrum and is similar to Asperger Syndrome.

Nathan has trouble with change, and Susie Hites prepares him for what's coming each day, which helps. He has to work hard in social situations.

"He really has to try much harder than most kids," Susie Hites said, because spelling bees are social settings. Nathan has to sit still and quiet for hours on end, which is a challenge. He works hard to recognize the feelings of the other contestants, too, she said.

After the national spelling bee, others complimented him on his good sportsmanship.

"In a sense, that is as much an achievement for him as winning third place," Susie Hites said.

Nathan Hites said those competing support each other.

"Once we got down to the final four, it was high-fives for everyone," Nathan Hites said.