specialmama Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 when you speak, and this causes overstimulation in a group setting with competing voices, what would you call this? Same child has excellent retention of spelling words, but struggles in math. I know it's somewhere in the CAPD family, some sort of visual and/or auditory processing disorder, but can anyone point my friend in a more specific direction? I'm hoping she will join us here. Thank you in advance for any input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DebbieWall Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 I am the Mom of the child who sees the words spelled out in her mind when she is talking or others are talking. Thanks Karyn for posting my question here. I'm hoping someone will know more about this. Thanks, Debbie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specialmama Posted February 16, 2011 Author Share Posted February 16, 2011 :grouphug: I'm so glad you buzzed into the Hive! :grouphug: I'm sure some of the ladies here will be able to help! :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specialmama Posted February 16, 2011 Author Share Posted February 16, 2011 :lurk5: Bumping up... someone has to have heard of this... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wapiti Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 I might think that seeing the words is a possible but unusual characteristic of a visual-spatial learning style rather than a disorder. The overstimulation it causes, on the other hand, sounds more like something else, whether that's APD or more generally SPD. No expertise here, just thinking out loud. I might see a word in my head when someone says it, especially if it's a particularly long or phonetically difficult word. It sounds like the situation at hand is something different though? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2bee Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 Removed by the Author. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca VA Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 I see words in my head when people are speaking. I used to do transcription as a side job, often 12-14 hours a day for days on end. So when someone speaks, I instinctively translate their spoken words into "written" words. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommymilkies Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 I see words in my head when people are speaking. I used to do transcription as a side job, often 12-14 hours a day for days on end. So when someone speaks, I instinctively translate their spoken words into "written" words. I do, too. I never knew there was anything wrong with it. I take "photos" of pages in my head from what I read, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specialmama Posted February 17, 2011 Author Share Posted February 17, 2011 I do, too. I never knew there was anything wrong with it. I take "photos" of pages in my head from what I read, too. FWIW, I don't think there's anything "wrong" with it, we're just trying to figure out this wonderful child. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommymilkies Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 FWIW, I don't think there's anything "wrong" with it, we're just trying to figure out this wonderful child. :001_smile: I meant more of people calling it a disorder. I just thought it was a learning style difference. It does cause overstimulation for me, it's just a matter of learning to block some things out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specialmama Posted February 17, 2011 Author Share Posted February 17, 2011 I meant more of people calling it a disorder. I just thought it was a learning style difference. It does cause overstimulation for me, it's just a matter of learning to block some things out. My sincere apologies if that offended you. I'm the first one to admit that I've never seen what "normal" is, I think we're all different and wonderful. That's just the filter I use. Again, my apologies for my poor choice of words. It was not my intent to cause hurt. :grouphug: If you don't mind my asking, do you have any tricks or tips on how one could learn to block things out? I know I have learned to hyper-focus, but that has led to some very interesting challenges, like not hearing the doorbell or quickly agreeing to a question my dd asks me without knowing what I'm agreeing to. :glare: So, I don't have any tips for Debbie on helping her dd with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom22ns Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 I do, too. I never knew there was anything wrong with it. I take "photos" of pages in my head from what I read, too. I don't see words when I hear them, but I take "photos" of pages. I realized it the first time in 8th grade taking a quiz and I couldn't remember the answer. I visualized the page it was on in the textbook and read until I got to the answer. Dd and I just read "A Mango Shaped Space" which is about a girl with synesthesia. I'd never heard of it before. It was a wonderful book and a fun glimpse into someone else's thinking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misty Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 This is a visual-spatial issue and tends to go along with hyperlexia and/or synesthesia. My 13yr old daughter has hyperlexia and synesthesia and is a top notch speller and reader, but really struggles with math. She thinks in words and visualizes all words in her head as she hears them. She actually obsesses over words in her head (she has OCD too). She also has mild Asperger's and is creatively gifted. I have the same characteristics and my auditory processing speed is quite slow because I have to visualize the words in my head before I can comprehend them. So there may be an auditory procesisng issue as well though my daughter does not have auditory processing issues (not this daughter anyway).. but I certainly do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie4b Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 when you speak, and this causes overstimulation in a group setting with competing voices, what would you call this? Same child has excellent retention of spelling words, but struggles in math. I know it's somewhere in the CAPD family, some sort of visual and/or auditory processing disorder, but can anyone point my friend in a more specific direction? I'm hoping she will join us here. Thank you in advance for any input. I have never heard of this exactly. I do it somewhat when speaking a foreign language. It slows things down considerably. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommymilkies Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 My sincere apologies if that offended you. I'm the first one to admit that I've never seen what "normal" is, I think we're all different and wonderful. That's just the filter I use. Again, my apologies for my poor choice of words. It was not my intent to cause hurt. :grouphug: If you don't mind my asking, do you have any tricks or tips on how one could learn to block things out? I know I have learned to hyper-focus, but that has led to some very interesting challenges, like not hearing the doorbell or quickly agreeing to a question my dd asks me without knowing what I'm agreeing to. :glare: So, I don't have any tips for Debbie on helping her dd with that. Gosh, I thought I replied, but it must not have gone through. You didn't offend me! No problem! :001_smile: I was just musing how I hadn't come across other people doing this or it being labeled a disorder when researching SPD with my son. I don't really have any tricks, just years of practice. I think being raised in a large family, working on a hospital floor, and then having 5 kids definitely helped me learn to focus and block things. "Sink or Swim"! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DebbieWall Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 Thanks to all who responded with their own stories of this "gift". I was wondering, Misty, if there were any particular ways that you or your daughter have found to cope with this? Is there a type of Dr specialist that was helpful, or a book or other tips? I have no idea where to turn for help. Thanks, Debbie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misty Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 My daughter has not needed any therapy for this.. She has always been very strong academically except for math and penmanship. She could use some intervention for her fine motor skills, which are horrible... But as far as having a gift for words and visualizing words, etc.. It has worked more for her than against her. I suppose if she has developed coping strategies along the way, she hasn't mentioned them. I, on the other hand, have a slow auditory processing speed along with this so I rarely use the phone and avoid too much socializing. I communicate best with written words so I use e-mail a lot! She does take Zoloft for her OCD and that helps with the obsessing with words over and over again in her mind. She has other OCD issues too that have been helped with the medication. How old is your daughter and do you think she has synesthesia at all? My daughter sees color with numbers, letters, and music notes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nature Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 (edited) I see words in my head all the time. I’m definitely a visual person and have difficulty understanding if something is verbal only. For example, if I’m going to watch a movie or TV, I always have closed captioning on. When someone is talking to me, I literally see the words in my head and then I quickly read them. However, I’m sure this really slows down my verbal understanding and if I didn’t have to ‘read’ what was just said, I could probably process things easier. I can’t read nearly as fast as most people speak, so I miss a lot. Although my hearing is fine, I seem to hear things incorrectly quite often. I’ve done some research on this it seems similar to ‘Ticker-Tape Synesthesia.’ Edited February 26, 2011 by Nature Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DebbieWall Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 I looked up the ticker tape synesthesia and that sounds exactly like what my 10yo is describing to me. She also sees colors floating around and on different objects. She told me about this several years ago and I took her to an optometrist and he said they were colored floaters, now I'm not so sure. I asked her about how she hears music and she says she sees the instrument that is playing. She has had a fascination with music since she was little and when listening to classical music in particular, she picks out all the instruments and accurately names them - this at age 3/4. Again, maybe there could be a connection here? Thanks for everyone's input, now I know what to "google" and can sound more intelligent when talking to her Dr. Debbie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest PureBlueLight Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 I can activate the ability to see words that are being spoken, in the mind. Let me tell you, this ability is as absurdly easy to use, as it is useless in physical aspects. If i focus a bit more, there is no delay i can perceive and be sure of (a tiny fraction of a second at most i suppose), they show up immediately, in a quite natural way, without the need to prepare or do something special. There is no need to stop what i'm doing to use this ability, all i need is a voice saying words i can understand. I can manipulate that ability to see the words coming in any shape or direction i want, using my imagination, but they don't stay in the mind, as more keep coming. I didn't know about other people who had this almost useless ability, but i'm glad i'm not the only one. If i can read the language, it works, if not, words don't show up, so it's limited. Where does it comes from? Imagination, most probably. Edit: I had to come back and add this to my post, because it appears that people are seeing "abilities" the wrong way! If you, your child, someone you know, can see colors, hear music, see words, see numbers, take pictures, all this in the Mind, or use their imagination in other ways you don't understand, DO NOT SUPPRESS IT !!! Instead, help that person learn new things, stimulate her imagination, travel, help her express herself. It is an advantage, not an illness. Use it, develop it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs.Mom Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 Just chiming in here - I see everything spoken in words, as well. I have some control over it, but not always. I've never found it to be a hinderance. My auditory process stinks though. As in, if you read me a phone number to write down, I will not "understand" what numbers you spoke until I recite them in my own head. Slow processing - same with spelling. As a child, I was a fantastic speller, so I was put in the spelling bee. When I went to spell a word orally, I would mix up all sorts of letters and just couldn't process. Put it on paper, and I'm great! In fact, I still mispronounce a lot of words. My syllables and the flow... my husband cracks up. It's become a quirk, I guess. I've never really put that all together though. My oldest son is going through some evals and his processing is wonky. I guess he comes by it naturally... ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 OLD THREAD RESURRECTED WARNING....:) This is a really ancient thread but since it was resurrected I will chime in too. I see words when I speak. I usually don't focus on them but if I am angry or emphasizing a point that really matters to me I see the words bolded and sometimes in italic. Not a big deal and sometimes is an advantage. Makes it easier to spell. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heathermomster Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 This thread is a fossil.. I don't see words in my head. I deconstruct objects in my head. The images are like pulled apart diagrams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mukmuk Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 Interesting old thread. Fwiw, ds sees words. We first found out when he started to spell big words backwards for fun. He said he read from a picture in his head. This aspect has, if anything, been very helpful and not at all a disorder. His spelling is excellent. He's also great at math, but in an intuitive, visual way. I'm replying because I'm mulling over how ds learns. He's great at math, but in an unusual (to me!) way. His tutor said yesterday, "whoa you intuited the algebraic equation of the circle?", in relation to a specific question on Aops. Ds can read the text all he wants, but if the new knowledge isn't more convincing than his previous understanding, it won't stick, or he won't use the knowledge. He doesn't seem to care if he gets it wrong- he's not convinced he is! I recognise there are strengths to this, and am working with the tutor on balancing his knowledge with this intuition/confidence/something! He has CAPD, and VPD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 I think like this. Except I see the math as numbers. Which made me horrid at word problems and practical applications, but keep it all numbers and I loved math. I don't think it's a disordered way to think. I do tend to hyperfocus, though. I can only really listen to one voice at at time. The rest I just tune out. Which is fine, except sometimes my own internal voice is what I tune in to instead of the person talking to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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