Understanding Synesthesia: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

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Synesthesia

by Alike Medical Team ∙ Updated on June 13, 2023

General

Synesthesia is a neurological condition in which information meant to stimulate one of your senses stimulates several of your senses. People who have synesthesia are called synesthetes.

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Signs & symptoms

There are multiple types of synesthesia, all with different symptoms. Grapheme-color synesthesia, where you connect letters and days of the week with colors, may be the most well-known. But there’s also sound-to-color synesthesia, number-form synesthesia, and many others. You may have only one type of synesthesia, or a combination of a few kinds. People who have any type of synesthesia tend to have these common symptoms: * involuntary perceptions that cross over between senses (tasting shapes, hearing colors, etc.) * sensory triggers that consistently and predictably cause interplay between senses (e.g., every time you see the letter A, you see it in red) * ability to describe their unusual perceptions to other people If you have synesthesia, you may be more likely to be left-handed and have a strong interest in visual arts or music. It would appear that synesthesia is more commonTrusted Source in women than in men.

Diagnosis

There are many different types of synesthesia tests, including both visual and auditory. Many of them are designed in a test-retest format. Consistency across multiple testing sessions helps to rule out the possibility that someone is making up their associations versus being a true synesthete.

Treatment

There’s no treatment for synesthesia. Anecdotally, many people seem to enjoy perceiving the world in a different way than the general population. On the other hand, some synesthetes feel that their condition isolates them from others. They may have trouble explaining their sensory experiences because they are very different. Finding communities of other synesthetes online may help ease this feeling of isolation. Speaking with a mental health professional may also help you to see the value synesthesia can add to your life. Instead of having a dominant side of your brain- right or left- you may find that both sides of your brain harmonize nicely as you pursue work you’re passionate about.

Note

☝ We provide information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diagnosis, procedures and lab tests. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

National Institutes of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ MedlinePluse ∙ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

☝ All information has been reviewed by certified physicians from Alike

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