Student Services

Supporting You

Disability & Dyslexia

Synaesthesia

What It Means

Synaesthesia is a difference in perceptual experience. Sensations are often blended, such as hearing colours or tasting shapes. The most common form of synaesthesia involves writing letters, words and numbers as if they are "shaded" or "tinted" with a colour (like an "aura").

Strengths

Most people with synaesthesia report it as a gift - an additional "hidden" sense. They use it to memorise names and telephone numbers and perform mental arithmetic. They also apply it in more creative ways such as producing visual art, music and theatre.

Weaknesses

Sometimes people with synaesthesia experience "sensory overload", where one or more senses are strained and it becomes difficult to focus on the task at hand.

Synaesthesia can interfere with everyday activities. For example, if an individual views a module as a particular colour, but views the day it is timetabled in a different colour, they may encounter problems with attending the right class on the right day.

Synaesthesia frequently co-occurs with Asperger's Syndrome.

Support Available

Every student's needs are different. Your dyslexia/disability advisor can help arrange the most appropriate level of support for your needs.

This support includes:

• Group and one-to-one study skills
• Extended loans in the library
• Access to assistive technology
• Exam modifications

If you would like advice, please contact us.

Letting Others Know

All information provided to us is considered confidential. We would not normally disclose it. With your consent, we will contact relevant members of UEL staff to inform them of your disability and support needs. This will be done by drawing up a Learning Support Agreement with your dyslexia/disability advisor.

 

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Also of Interest

• Disabilities
• Specific Learning Difficulties / Dyslexia
• Regional Access Centre (RACEL)

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