our networks
discovery channeltlcanimal planetthe science channelthe military channeldiscovery health
site search
shop now
 

synesthesia

 

Carol Steen cont'd

    print
 

Q: What made you begin the American Synesthesia Association (ASA)?
A:
Pat [Duffy, co-founder and fellow synesthete] and I wondered -- is there something we could do so that we could make it easier? Because it took me 42 years. So we started the ASA. We're a public charity, and the only recognized organization in the U.S. for synesthetes. We put on conferences; our next will be in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada from Sept. 26 to 28.

Q: Do you feel at home with your gift now?
A:
I still have a lot of questions. One is, "What does it mean to have synesthesia," and the other is, "Why me?" But the difference is now I have lots of people I can talk to.

With color grapheme, the shape of the letter seems to indicate color. If there's an alphabet I don't recognize, I see it in black and white. But the minute someone pronounces the letters, they go into color.

Every time I'm invited to Juilliard, I always start the lecture asking how many people think they have synesthesia? By the end, there are always three or four.

Q: What kind of questions do people ask you?
A:
People always want to know the color of my name. C is a cerulean blue, like Jamaican waters. A is a wonderful pink -- an alizarin crimson. R is cadmium, O is white and L is black with blue highlights. Pat and I have been arguing about L. She thinks it's a delicate yellow. I suggested she take vitamins, so she can see it the same way I do; she thinks I should learn my color wheel!

 
advertisement

SHOP DISCOVERY STORE

 
newsletter
 

Sponsored Links

 
SITE SEARCH
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTERS
CREDITS DCL |
DISCOVERY SITES Discovery Channel / TLC / Animal Planet / Discovery Health / Science Channel / Planet Green / Discovery Kids / Military Channel /
Investigation Discovery / HD Theater / Turbo / FitTV / HowStuffWorks / TreeHugger / Petfinder / PetVideo / Discovery Education
SHOP Toys / Games / Telescopes / DVD Sets / Planet Earth DVD Sets / Gift Ideas
CUSTOMER SERVICE Contact Us / Free Newsletters / RSS / TV FAQs
CORPORATE Discovery Communications, LLC / Advertising / Careers @ Discovery / Privacy Policy / Visitor Agreement
ATTENTION! We recently updated our privacy policy. The changes are effective as of Tuesday, October 30, 2007. To see the new policy, click here. Questions? See the policy for the contact information.