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Confusing Colours

Telstar

I wondered if anyone has problems with describing colours that they see, or imagine in their mind?  For example, I was making tea for a family member recently, and said to them "do you want the green and red cup?" - but the cup was green and yellow!  The thing is, I know the cups we have are green and yellow, as we've had them many years - it's just that when I described it, I mis-named the yellow as red.  This has happened many times over the years, and I'm always surprised and immediately say "why did I call that colour something else?"

I'm wondering if it's linked to a far greater problem, that of following verbal instruction, which has caused countless problems in the past, especially in employment.  I'm waiting for my assessment for an ASC after being referred, and the communication problems are something that I'll be asking them about, due to their impact on my life.

I'm not unduly concerned about the colour mis-naming, as it doesn't happen daily or weekly, but just randomly, and with no pattern to it.  Obviously there would be some jobs in which mis-naming a colour could have far greater impact, though as I'm unemployed at the moment, this is not currently a concern.

I'd be interested if anyone else has experieced this...........

  • I do this! I’m 27 and it’s happened my whole life. Only with Yellow and Red. 

  • I dont care what anyone says to me, turquoise is the same colour as grass! I have a shoulder bag which my other half assures me is a light olive green but to me it's grey.

    I have also miss read traffic lights when they were green and always have to pause outside toilet doors to study the symbols because I dont immediately recognise which one is the ladies.

    I am awaiting diagnosis, have an appointment next month!

  • I Forgot about those test i took one when i was young. just saw that topic and thought about the times that it had happened to me and forgot about those test with numbers in the circles. I honestly dont rember what type of colour blind im am but i cant tell the difference between blue/purple and red/green. but i am still wondering if i confuse colours as well because i have told someone a few times that something is say pink they have its told me its white and then i could see it as white. so really dont know 

  • So i was diagnosed with autism recently and colour blindness when i was young but now im not sure if am colour blind on not. I have always had difficulty with colours but sometimes I can tell the right colour but i have had times when ive mistaking red for yellow on a car and thats not something i heard about for anyone who is colour blind.

  • Telstar said:

    I do have the same problem when typing sometimes, when I will either use the wrong word, or sometimes just leave a whole word out.  Because of this, I tend to re-read everything I type.

    I find when I'm typing I often put in a homonym (a word that sounds the same with a different meaning) instead of the word I want.  So I will put in 'no' instead of "Know", and "Their" instead of "There" or "They're" even though I do know the difference. 

    I suppose this is because I type in 'sounds' rather than words and the fingers are moving so quickly the brain cannot catch up and interpret the meaning.  Well that was my excuse!

  • Thanks to both of you for your comments.  

    Aspergerix, it's really interesting that you mentioned that it happens with words too - I do have the same problem when typing sometimes, when I will either use the wrong word, or sometimes just leave a whole word out.  Because of this, I tend to re-read everything I type.

    Trainspotter, it does sound as if the brain just sends the wrong instructions as you say, and it's strange how it can just be totally random, and when you least expect it to happen.

    As I'm in the difficult period between knowing I might be on the spectrum and getting an assessment, there is still a lot I'm trying to find out about it, so I'm grateful to you both for letting me know I'm not alone in experiencing misnaming colours and words.  Thank you!

  • I have often had that problem in relation to colours. 

    Sometimes the wrong word comes out.  I am picturing the colour but then describe it incorrectly.  A bit like when I call someone by someone else's name even though they are nothing like the person whose name I use.

    I have also found myself pulling up at a green light, knowing it is green and only realising I needn't stop when I am nearly there.  I think it is because sometimes the brain just sends the wrong instructions or doesn't interpret the right action to perform at a specific time, if only for a split second.  Then when the event train is put into action it is a very difficult thing to stop.

    Another problem with general words is that they change their meaning.  The original meaning is often totally different and as a keen dictionary reader I often use or interpret the original meaning and this can cause problems and confusion.