hmm please help?

Question

Can anyone help? I have a very strange memory for numbers,I can hear or see a telephone number twice and remember it straight away and can recall it even several weeks later.I just want to know if there is a psychological term for it.I asked this question before and most people replied that it was autism,which I know I don't have,I interact perfectly as well.Thanks

Answer 1

I don't think there is a term for this as it isn't really a psychological condition as such, you just have an extremely good memory for certain things.
The people who said you were autistic were confusing your abilities with those of a 'savant' (I think that's how you spell it), which is somebody who is mentally disabled in one way (usually autistic or similar) but who has extremely exaggerated abilities in another area, often memory, maths or art related.

Answer 2

The basic reasoning behind this would be that you are able to use an idea known as "chunking" but you use it subconsciously which measn you are more likely to remember things for longer than if you were to remember it consciously with chunking.

Chunking is a process whereby we break down long numbers (such as telephone numbers) into smaller groups of numbers. Generally the rule of memory is that we can remember things in groups of seven (plus or minus two). With chunking we can remember more.

The psychological term you are looking for does not particularly exist, it is just that you are using "subconscious chunking".

Answer 3

Your learning style of numbers is visual and/or auditory. Not sure about a psychological term for it. Your brain is numbers oriented. I can do the same thing. If I write down a number (phone, combination, etc) I can remember it for years. I can still remember the combination to my piggy bank when I was a child. I cannot, however, remember the first time I read a book. Learning styles are interesting and a little strange.

Answer 4

Wow...me too!!! i can remember series of numbers...usually telephone numbers...but nt very long numbers...like longer than 10digits i cnt remember...its mainly for landline telephone numbers and if i hear it twice then i remember it for life...its SOO bizarre...but the funny thing is its only for numbers, like if i hear an important sentence or something twice...i cnt remember that...this started happenin at the the same time i started losing my short term memory (not that serious jst i cnt repeat back what has just been said to me...takes me a while and then i can)
...has tht hpnd to u? mayb its replacing one type of memory with another....very bizarre indeed

Answer 5

I don't think it is strange. I know a few people like that. You just have a good memory for numbers. I wish I did. I hate math and never have had a good memory with numbers. You are normal and you have a gift.

Answer 6

You're extremely lucky! I'm numerically dyslexic so have real problems in day-to-day life - I have trouble reading road signs (A4320 becomes A2043 for example) and it takes me ages to dial a phone number. So relish your gift - perhaps there's a career in it for you!

Answer 7

We all have particular gifts, yours seems to be a good memory, especially for numbers. Must be something you can do with this gift and to develop it further.

Answer 8

It's simply called "total recall". It can be associated with a number of things, you have total numeric recall. Your lucky.

Answer 9

not sure if there is a name for it but i know two people who are like this one for numbers and one for names. wish i could remember what i did a hour ago lol

Answer 10

Maybe u just got a good memory!