Living With Synesthesia

Synesthesia is a neurological condition where one sense—smell, taste, sound, sight, or touch—activates another. For example, a person with synesthesia may see colors when listening to music or taste shapes when eating food, says Candace Kotkin-De Carvalho, LSW, LCADC, CCS, CCTP, the clinical director at Absolute Awakenings.

The additional perception is involuntary and occurs automatically when experiencing the initial stimulation. Researchers estimate that about 1 in 2000 people have synesthesia, though as many as 1 in 300 people might experience some variation, according to the American Psychological Association.

Causes of Synesthesia

Researchers aren’t entirely clear on the cause of synesthesia or why one person has it and another doesn’t—theories of why someone is more likely to experience synesthesia range from left-handedness to drug exposure. Genetic research on synesthesia suggests the phenomenon is heterogeneous and polygenetic, though it's unclear whether it's a selective advantage or a byproduct of some other trait.

How it occurs is clearer. According to Dr. James Giordano, professor of neurology at Georgetown University Medical Center, “Connections remain between and among different sensory nodes and networks. Thus, given nerve cells that ‘fire together, wire together,’ these remaining inter-sensory connectivities enable synesthetic perceptions.” The crossover leads to a person’s senses not responding solely with the typical response—hence seeing something when you hear another thing. 

According to Dr. Zeeshan Afzal, medical officer at Welzo, synesthesia usually manifests in childhood, but some people don’t realize they experience it until adulthood. 

Types of Synesthesia

One study has identified over 60 types of synesthesia. Some of the most common forms involve seeing color when experiencing a sight or sound. Examples of synesthesia include:

• Grapheme-color synesthesia: When a person perceives a color upon viewing an achromatic letter or number. Researchers believe it to be the most common form of synesthesia. 
• Time unit-color synesthesia: In this case, a person also perceives a color but, instead, when looking at a time, such as the day of the week. 
• Musical sound–color synesthesia: When sound, typically music, causes a person to perceive color. 

How Do You Know If You Have Synesthesia?

Synesthesia, like most conditions, exists on a spectrum. Some people experience synesthesia only to a mild or moderate extent, something known as partial synesthesia. “For some, the experience is less explicitly sensory and more ‘perceptual,’ or even cognitive and emotional,” says Giordano. “Some individuals may experience certain shapes, flavors, sounds, or other sensations as having distinctive ‘feelings’ with an emotional register.” This form of synesthesia could look like thinking a specific color is happy, or a number is sad. 

A healthcare professional can diagnose you with synesthesia. There are also synesthesia tests and online tools that can help you determine it. The test you would take depends on what type of synesthesia you might have. If it's a color-related one, then you can take a test looking at certain words or numbers and state which color you perceive from each one. You can take the same test a few days or weeks later (when you forget your answers) and see if your colors line up.

A person with synesthesia will always associate the same color with a particular sound or word. Online or friend-led tests can help give you an idea but aren't always entirely accurate. A medical professional can provide a test and analyze your results to confirm.

If it's a color-related one, then you can take a test looking at certain words or numbers and state which color you perceive from each one. You can take the same test a few days or weeks later (when you forget your answers) and see if your colors line up. A person with synesthesia will always associate the same color with a particular sound or word. Online or friend-led tests can help give you an idea but aren't always entirely accurate. A medical professional can provide a test and analyze your results to confirm.

What Synesthesia Feels Like

A person’s experience living with synesthesia varies based on the type they have, to what degree it occurs, and how they live their life. “Some individuals with synesthesia find that it enhances their creativity or makes certain tasks easier, while others may find it distracting or overwhelming,” says Afzal.

Many people live happily with synesthesia. As Giordan explains, in some instances, a person may even express that they have a “richer” experience of the world.

At other times, synesthesia can be distracting or even make it harder to function due to a person being overwhelmed by so much sensory information. For example, if a person experiences overwhelming colors when listening to a song, then they may avoid concerts or even listen to the radio. Or they might find themselves giving up reading if certain words cause a strong sensation.

If this occurs, Kotkin-De Carvalho recommends seeking out a mental health expert “who can provide therapeutic strategies to help regulate the sensory information and interrupt any related cycles of distress.” A professional can also determine if any comorbidities, such as anxiety or depression, exist and suggest treatment options. 

Treatment for Synesthesia

At this time synesthesia doesn't have any direct treatment options. Anyone who is struggling due to sensory overload or other synesthesia-induced disruptions can speak with a mental health professional to receive targeted care towards the symptoms it produces.