Using A Synesthesia Test To Understand Your Perception

Synesthesia is a condition that can affect the ways individuals perceive certain sensory experiences. Due to the wide variety of types of synesthesia, you may wonder whether there is a test or quiz you can take to diagnose synesthesia. This article aims to provide more information on synesthesia tests, as well as what synesthesia is and how it can manifest. 

What is synesthesia?

The American Psychological Association defines synesthesia as a condition in which stimulation of one sense generates a simultaneous sensation in another. In other words, when a person with synesthesia (sometimes referred to as a “synesthete”) has an experience related to one of the five senses, they may also perceive things through one of their other senses. For example, a synesthete might perceive different colors when they hear certain sounds or experience specific tastes each time they hear certain words. 

Researchers have estimated that approximately 2-4% of people experience synesthesia. Although synesthesia is relatively rare, it is not considered a mental illness or a mental health condition, and it is generally accepted as not being harmful to one’s health. 

Synesthetic experiences may take a wide range of forms, with a variety of potential variations having been identified. Certain estimates suggest there may be dozens of possible types of synesthesia. Below are a few examples:

Grapheme-color synesthesia

Grapheme-color synesthesia causes specific letters and numbers to be associated with particular colors. For instance, an individual with this form of synesthesia might experience the number nine as a specific shade of green. 

Chromesthesia

Also known as sound-to-color synesthesia, this form of synesthesia causes a person to perceive specific colors, movements, or shapes connected to particular sounds. For example, one might hear the sound of a certain musical note and perceive a specific shade of blue. 

Auditory-tactile synesthesia

For those with auditory-tactile synesthesia, certain sounds can induce certain sensations in the body—for example, the sound of a glass breaking might trigger a feeling of tingling or buzzing. 

Mirror-touch synesthesia

Mirro-touch synesthesia is a form of synesthesia that can cause those observing a sensation in another person to experience the same sensation in their own body. For example, a person with mirror-touch synesthesia might see someone else having their foot touched and feel the same sensation in their own foot. 

Lexical-gustatory synesthesia

For those who experience lexical-gustatory synesthesia, certain words correlate with different flavors' perceptions. For example, someone with lexical-gustatory synesthesia might hear the word “Tuesday” and experience the taste of potatoes. 

Those with synesthesia may find their synesthetic experiences consistent, regardless of setting or context. For example, someone with grapheme-color synesthesia may find that the letter Q is always associated with the same shade of purple, regardless of where or how the letter is encountered. 

Can a synesthesia test diagnose synesthesia?

Various tools have been proposed for diagnosing synesthesia, such as the Synesthesia Battery, developed by researchers in 2006. However, there is no single standardized test for diagnosing the condition. 

That said, a variety of synesthesia tests exist that may be helpful to those who suspect they might have synesthesia. These tests, which may be proctored or self-administered, may vary in length and content, depending on the type of synesthesia they are testing for. 

For example, a grapheme-color synesthesia test might involve showing an individual a sheet with black letters and asking them which colors they associate with each. Similarly, a test for chromesthesia might involve playing a particular sound and having the subject describe what they see. 

Because synesthetic experiences can be subjective, it may be challenging to distinguish synesthetes from non-synesthetes, even when using a test. For this reason, some synesthesia tests may also factor in reaction time or randomize the prompts to help distinguish synesthetic experiences from standard memory connections. 

If you believe you have synesthesia, an online quiz or test may help describe your experiences or narrow down which form of synesthesia you have. Should you have concerns about the causes of any symptoms you may be experiencing, consider contacting your healthcare provider to rule out any other underlying factors. 

Understanding your perceptions through therapy

For those with synesthesia, putting their experiences into words and understanding their way of perceiving the world may take work. While some synesthetes may enjoy the experience of synesthesia, others may find the condition isolating or experience challenges connecting with others due to their unique perceptions. 

In these cases, therapy may be a helpful option for exploring one’s perceptions in a non-judgmental setting. A licensed therapist may be able to provide additional insight into synesthetic experiences, as well as support in navigating life as a synesthete or advice for managing unpleasant sensory perceptions. 

That said, in-person therapy may not always be feasible, particularly for those with demanding schedules, which may make commuting to a therapist’s office challenging.

In these situations, online therapy through platforms like BetterHelp may be a useful resource, offering the ability to attend therapy from wherever is most convenient and to send messages to a counselor outside of scheduled therapy sessions.

Online therapy has been found to be an effective method of treating a range of mental health conditions. Per a 2017 study, these may include but are not limited to depression, generalized anxiety disorder, chronic pain, adjustment disorder, and phobias.