• Question: How can I know for sure if I have synesthesia??

    Asked by monkey10 to Laura, Lily, Mark, Paul, Sarah on 23 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Lily Asquith

      Lily Asquith answered on 22 Jun 2010:

      You can search online for a test. I thought I had it but the test told me I didn’t.

    • Photo: Mark Roberts

      Mark Roberts answered on 22 Jun 2010:

      I guess a simple way to do it would be to do an experiment

      1. Read a list of random numbers between 0 and 9 at a rate of about one every 3 seconds. For example: 7, 9, 4, 0, 3, 8, 2, 5, 1, 6.

      2. After each number is read, ask people to write down the number and what colour that they associate with each number.

      3. Collect the answers. These will be called “Answers #1”.

      4. Two to three weeks later, repeat the experiment, but change the order of the numbers. For example: 3, 6, 5, 9, 4, 1, 7, 0, 5, 2, 8.

      5. Collect the answers. These will be called “Answers #2”.

      6. Compare Answers #1 with Answers #2. A person with synesthesia will have all or most of the same number-colour pairs on both Answers #1 and Answers #2.

      This experiment can also be done using letters instead of numbers.

      So have a go and see!

    • Photo: Sarah Bardsley

      Sarah Bardsley answered on 23 Jun 2010:

      Isn’t that when you connect letters and numbers with colours or see numbers spatially? You could know for sure by getting it diagnosed by your doctor.

    • Photo: Paul Roche

      Paul Roche answered on 23 Jun 2010:

      I think you’d have to consult a specialist (referred by your doctor) – but you would have lots of clues presumably, if you can “smell” colours, “see” sounds etc.?

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