But that was all we knew about it. Now that she knows what it's called, and that there are others like her, she is eager talk about it. In Mattie's case, when she looks at letters or numbers, she also sees colors. These colors are consistent, and have always been the same. Here is a representation of her colored letters and numbers.
Some colors are easier to see on a light or dark background.
Thus, both are provided here. This is the most common type of synesthesia, but there are also many others. Some people see colors and patterns when they listen to music. Others feel textures or shapes associated with tastes or smells. But now we know that one person's reality isn't necessarily the same as anyone else's.