Does anyone else think like this?

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I've always thought by seeing the words visually in my head, as in I can see the letters. I hear the words too, but it's sort of like reading--that's just accompanying the letters. I also see words when people speak, but I feel like that's an inaccurate description--voices, and generally sounds, are almost solid to me because when they talk I can see the words around them. That's the closest I can describe it. I think in pictures too, but only really when remembering things that have happened or when I'm planning out a scene for a story in my head, and it's mostly words.

I only really thought about this when I read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon and Christopher, its Aspie protagonist, said that as he thought he could see the words in his mind like a computer screen, and he could see the words when people talked too, especially if they're in another room. I wouldn't describe it as a computer screen, but it still got me thinking. Yesterday, when I asked my Mum if she saw the words too, she said no. She seems to think that's really weird and definitely not normal, and I'd just assumed everyone else thought like that the whole time. We're trying to get me diagnosed right now and she thinks telling the paediatrician about this will get me referred to CAHMS easily.

Am I alone here? What's thinking like to you?

Hi Vapzii,

Never fear; you're not the only one who thinks like that, as I understand your description, anyway. As I am typing to you now, obviously I can see the words I'm writing on the screen in front of me, but I can see them in my head, too. I'm finding it really difficult to explain the way I want to, but it's almost like my subconscious is reading back to me. I can't say that I share the view that voices or sounds are more "solid" though. When I speak to other people verbally, my subconscious goes over what they're saying and says it again in my head, almost as if to make sure that I've heard them right. This is not something I do consciously and I don't believe I have ever needed to. It doesn't stop with English (native language) either; this happens in Russian, French and in particular, German, for me. I'm not sure if I've read your mum's reaction in too extreme a way, perhaps I have, but don't think of it as a negative thing. It's awesome, I think, and it's helpful sometimes too!

Good luck getting your diagnosis,

Jack :]

I also see pictures in my head and when I learn I must see someone do it and then I learn it-trying to read how to do something I get confused.

Well the first thing you should know is that Mark Haddon stated that he did not research autism and regrets having every having the character associated with AS, and suggests that readers looking for information on AS should read books actually written by aspies.

I think mainly in spoken words, but I also have a lot of images and animations mixed in. When thinking mathmetically I think of the concepts in fluid images of the notation that morph around. I'm also more image based when thinking of stories, either while reading them, thinking of them in retrospect, or creating them and stuff like that.

I think in a number of different ways. When I am writing I "hear" the words just before I type them; If I am going slowly I might "see" them also. When someone is speaking to me I generally get the sense without any intermediate step, but if the information is complicated, I will see images, never words. I reason, plan and work out problems in images, with perhaps a few words to make the images specific. I do math in my head by "writing" all the figures down, just as I would on a piece of paper. So, my thinking is a mix, with images predominating.

I don't but someone I know who is not autistic said when she says someone's name she see it written out in her mind's eye.

I absolutely "see" words when I am thinking them. I don't think I "see" words other people speak, though... At least, not if I can see the person.